[Gen 37:2-5 ESV] 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.
*Families get stuck when they expect everything to be equal and fair.*
Joseph at this point in his teen years could be labeled a "tattle tale," a "spoiled brat," or a "punk kid." He probably soaked up the attention and adulation that comes from being the "favorite," and obviously created a lot of family tension.
Only God is impartial (Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9), because only He is perfect. Although we are commanded in Scripture not to show partiality (1 Timothy 5:21, James 2:1-9), we often do out of our natural inclinations. To rectify things within our "Family Feud" we must realize that our parents, even when they may have shown favoritism, were doing the best they could. We must have a heart to forgive injustices, as God does, and then we will overcome much of the bitterness that is caused by jealous competition.
Thank God today that He wasn't fair in His assessment of you. Without His grace and mercy, we'd all get the sentence of hell, which is what we deserve for messing up in sin. Lighten up and love!
*Life Point* Forgiveness lets us Gain Favor with God (Matthew 6:14-15)
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