Genesis 37:34 So Jacob tore his clothes, and put on a sackcloth undergarment over his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
In the ‘60s there was a comedy act called The Smothers Brothers. Two real-life brothers who had their own TV show and did music and skits. One of their recurring themes was ‘mom always liked you best.’ It was always pretty funny! But a reality like that would not be so funny. That was the reality in Jacob’s large family. He had twelve sons. Those sons had four different mothers! And they sort of naturally fell into groups along those lines. Three groups, and Joseph. (Joseph’s brother Benjamin was very young.)
Joseph was the clear favorite. Because his mother was the favorite wife. In case the older sons ever lost track of this fact, Jacob gave him a special ‘coat of many colors.’ This did not improve relations at all!
The older sons decided that they would take matters into their own hands and kill Joseph! Cooler heads prevailed and they instead sold him to slave traders. His fancy coat they kept and tore it up, covered it in blood, and allowed their father to think that Joseph had been killed by an animal. (They really didn’t like Joseph!) Jacob was devastated. (It seemed they didn’t care that much for his feelings.)
As we’ll see in the coming chapters, Joseph ended up second in command in Egypt - he was right next to Pharaoh! - and through his wisdom and foresight, saved the world. He did all that after he was dead to his brothers.
Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost.
John 1:11 He came unto His own and his own received Him not.
Sounds familiar. Jesus taught, preached, healed, even raised people from the dead. But He was killed by those He came to save. It grieved His Father’s heart to see Jesus so treated. (It still does grieve the Father when we reject the Son.) But after Jesus was dead to them, He rose again and was seated at the right hand of the Father!
Our sins put Jesus on the cross. But it was to forgive our sins that He willingly went to the cross! Joseph’s brothers would get an opportunity to seek forgiveness for their rejection. We have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins. Have you sought His forgiveness?
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
