IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JOSEPH - 'Please Listen to This Dream"

 JEALOUSY TAKES ROOT

Perhaps because of Joseph's  courageous stand for what was right, Jacob bestowed anhonor on the boy. He had a special garment  made for his son.  (Genesis 37:3) It has often been called a striped coat of many colors, but there is scant evidence for such renderings.  Likely, it wa a long, elegant robe, perhaps reaching to the extremities of the arms and legs.  It was probably the kind of garb that a nobleman or a prince might wear.

Jacob surely meant well, and  Joseph must have been touched by this sign of his father's  regard and affection.  But that garmemt  would bring him a great deal of trouble.  For one thing, remember that the boy worked as a shepherd.  That meant rugged manual labor.  Imagine the youth wearing such a regal  garment while trudging through long grass, climbin over rocks, or trying to disentangle a lost lamb from thornbus. Worse, though, how would this sign of Jacob's favor affect Joseph's relationship with his brother? 

The Bible answers: "When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they begin to hate him, and they could not speak peaceably  to him." (Genesis 37:4) Their jealousy maybe understandable, but Joseph's brothers were unwise to give in to that poisonous emotion. (Proverbs 14:30; 27:4)   Have you ever found yourself seething with envy when someone received attention of hone that you wanted?  Remember Joseph's brothers.  Their jealously led them to commit deeds that hey would come to regret deeply.  Their example serves to remind Christians that it is far wise to "rejoice with those who rejoice." - ROMANS 12:15. 

Joseph surely sensed his brother's animosity. So did he stash his robe when his brothers were near?  He might have been tempted to do so.  Remember, though, that Jacob wanted the robe to be  a sign of favor and love. Joseph wanted to live up to his father's trust inhim, so he loyallly wore the garment.  His example is useful for us. Although own heavenly Father is never partial, he does at times single out his loyal servants and favor them.  Furthermore, he asks them to stand out as different from this corrupt and immoral world. Like Joseph's special robe, the conduct of the Christians makes them different  from those around them.  Such conduct sometimes incites jealousy and animosity.  (1 Peter 4:4)   Should a Christian hide his true identity as a servant of God? No-no more than Joseph should have hidden his robe. - LUKE 11:33.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JOSEPH  "Please Listen to This Dream" - JOSEPH'S DREAMS

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