Portion Genesis 37-39
Gen 37:3-4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Gen 37:3-4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children- WHY?
1. Jacob loved Joseph because he was the son of his old age. (Gen 37:2,3)
Though Jacob loved Joseph because he was his son of old age, but the main reason Jacob loved his son Joseph was because of his obedience and righteousness. But Joseph’s brothers did not like this because they thought that since he was born to Rachel Jacob loved him more.
2. Joseph was righteous and God fearing.
Joseph, being seventeen years old: Thus begins one the remarkable life stories of the Bible and all literature. “He was loved and hated, favored and abused, tempted and trusted, exalted and abased. Yet at no point in the one-hundred-and-ten-year life of Joseph did he ever seem to get his eyes off God or cease to trust him. Adversity did not harden his character. Prosperity did not ruin him. He was the same in private as in public. He was a truly great man.” (Boice)
Though Jacob loved Joseph because he was his son of old age, but the main reason Jacob loved his son Joseph was because of his obedience and righteousness. But Joseph’s brothers did not like this because they thought that since he was born to Rachel Jacob loved him more.
2. Joseph was righteous and God fearing.
Joseph, being seventeen years old: Thus begins one the remarkable life stories of the Bible and all literature. “He was loved and hated, favored and abused, tempted and trusted, exalted and abased. Yet at no point in the one-hundred-and-ten-year life of Joseph did he ever seem to get his eyes off God or cease to trust him. Adversity did not harden his character. Prosperity did not ruin him. He was the same in private as in public. He was a truly great man.” (Boice)
3.One of the main reasons that Joseph went through ups and downs in his life is because of his righteousness and fear of God.
Joseph loved righteousness and hated wickedness. He would rather suffer in prison than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. That was why, when the wife of his master invited him to lie with her and commit adultery, Joseph refused, answering her, "How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
Joseph knew that serving God and serving sin do not go together! Joseph had presented his heart to God. That is why he loved righteousness and hated wickedness. God "walked" with Joseph because Joseph "walked" with God. Joseph could not enjoy sin, because his heart belonged to God. The one who believes and worships God from the heart will love what God loves and hate what God hates. That is what the Scripture declares when it says:
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Matt. 6:24) "For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14)
"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (1 John 1:5,6)
And for this very reason Joseph was favored and loved by God as well as his father.