THE FRUIT OF FAVORITISM
Genesis 33:1-2
"Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last."
Joseph was a young child when his father, Jacob, decided to return to his homeland after all the years in exile on the farm of his uncle, Laban. As he was traveling, he was met by his brother, Esau, who had vowed to kill him. Naturally, Jacob was afraid when he discovered that Esau had four hundred men with him because he was no match for such an army. So he arranged his family with the servant-wives and their children first, so that if there was any trouble, they would get the first assault. Next came Leah and her children, and lastly Rachel and Joseph. It is apparent that Rachel and Joseph were his most dearly beloved and he wanted to protect them. Joseph is the only child mentioned by name. I believe that this favoritism was not unknown by the rest of the family, and it marked the relationship of Joseph to his brothers for the rest of their lives. Jacob's favoritism toward Joseph is understandable because he loved Rachel more than the other women and their children, but that does not diminish the relational conflict and the bad fruit that resulted.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Familial favoritism yields bad fruit.
[end]
Have an "equal opportunity" day. Love you.
Genesis 33:1-2
"Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last."
Joseph was a young child when his father, Jacob, decided to return to his homeland after all the years in exile on the farm of his uncle, Laban. As he was traveling, he was met by his brother, Esau, who had vowed to kill him. Naturally, Jacob was afraid when he discovered that Esau had four hundred men with him because he was no match for such an army. So he arranged his family with the servant-wives and their children first, so that if there was any trouble, they would get the first assault. Next came Leah and her children, and lastly Rachel and Joseph. It is apparent that Rachel and Joseph were his most dearly beloved and he wanted to protect them. Joseph is the only child mentioned by name. I believe that this favoritism was not unknown by the rest of the family, and it marked the relationship of Joseph to his brothers for the rest of their lives. Jacob's favoritism toward Joseph is understandable because he loved Rachel more than the other women and their children, but that does not diminish the relational conflict and the bad fruit that resulted.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Familial favoritism yields bad fruit.
[end]
Have an "equal opportunity" day. Love you.
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