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ENTER JOSEPH THE BELOVED OF THE FATHER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Genesis 37:1-4

Psalm 18:11-20

 

Be steadfast in the Lord.

 

ENTER JOSEPH THE BELOVED OF THE FATHER
 
The last fourteen chapters of Genesis is a fascinating account of God’s preservation and raising of the nation Israel through the interaction of human emotions of love, hate, envy, jealousy, loyalty, treachery, violence, murder among the sons of Jacob. Occupying centre stage in this real-life story was Joseph, the deliverer sent from God.
 
Son of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel, Joseph had a special place in his father’s affections. The Bible record states that “…Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age…” (Gen 37:3). This bond increased after Rachel’s death in childbirth. From later accounts of his extraordinary wisdom and moral uprightness in the face of extreme temptation, we may safely infer that even from his youth, Joseph had shown these godly characteristics. This naturally brought greater delight to his ageing father, who put explicit trust in the young lad.
 
In his unrestrained enthusiasm, Israel openly demonstrated his affection by making Joseph a coat of many colours, i.e. a garment to mark his status. This sort of partiality aroused the envy and hatred of the elder sons, so that considerable ill feeling was worked up between them. To make matters worse, Joseph in his youthful innocence and loyalty to his father, kept a watch on the elder brothers and reported on them.
 
We see then, Joseph the object of his father’s love was equally the object of his brothers’ mounting hatred. But, behind it all, was God’s unseen hand moving and ordering events, preparing for the eventual salvation of the family and nurturing of the nation.
 
THOUGHT: God’s wisdom is past finding out.

PRAYER: May my eyes see beyond the physical.

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