THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE ENVIOUS (3)
We conclude our reflections today on the foolishness of the 10 senior brothers of Joseph in selling Joseph into slavery because of envy that graduated into hatred.
- GENERATIONAL FOOLISHNESS :
The actions of the brothers of Joseph almost led to a generational curse on the descendants of Israel.
If God had not been merciful, the children of Israel would have died in famine -Gen 42. The entire 12 tribes would have been wiped out before they became a nation.
The action of the brothers of Joseph almost wiped out the future of the nation of millions of people due to famine.
Your envy today can ruin the future of your children’s children. Know that because you envied and refused to support your brother, your children may not have a helper in future.
- THE FOOLISH LOSS OF A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
For 22 years, the household of Jacob never had joy whatsoever – Complete lack of peace. For 22 years, they lost brotherhood and connection with Joseph.
Whereas, if they had managed their envy well, they would have had Joseph as brother AND as Prime Minister of Egypt, thereby enjoying the honour of his office early and long enough.
But envy creates distance. They could not speak peaceably unto him – Gen 37:4 even before they sold him into slavery. Envy broke communication between the brothers irretrievably.
Foolishness in envying made them lose 22 years in good relationship and growing together that they could never recover. They lost 22 years of seeing their brother – when they finally met, they were already old men.
- THE FOOLISHNESS OF MISUNDERSTANDING GOD – The brothers of Joseph went beyond their bound in playing god in the life of their little brother.
Despite their being older, they were foolish not to be conscious of the circumstances of the birth of Joseph – a boy that was born after several years of traumatic expectation by the mother, and emotional longing by their father.
The brothers simply went into wrong conclusions through negative interpretation – “Joseph wants to rule over us”.
Whereas God’s intention was to use Joseph as an instrument to PRESERVE his brothers and the generation of the time from famine :
Joseph later told them _”And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance”.(Gen.45:7).
Joseph did not forget to remind his brothers later that : “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive”.(Gen. 50:20)
This situation brought to the front burner the fact that the very person they sold to destroy his dream, became the only reason they survived famine. If they had killed Joseph, they would have all died in famine 22 years later ( 13 years after being sold into slavery he became Governor of Egypt. There were 7 years of plenty, and 2 years of famine before the arrival of the brothers.
REALITY CHECK : Many people today are busy envying and fighting the very Joseph of their family : that one brother or sister doing well — not knowing that God has raised him or her to preserve the whole family and future generations.
On your part as you read this reflection, who are you showing envy and hatred to?
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
