Meant for GoodSample

A Persistent Promise and A Persistent Problem

Read: Genesis 37:1-4

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Moses opens Genesis 37 by giving context and introducing the key conflict of the story. Jacob and his sons dwell in Canaan, the land promised to Abraham back in Genesis 12. Jacob makes his son Joseph a “tunic of many colors” (Genesis 37:3) to show his special affection and love towards him. Jacob’s other sons are jealous of Joseph’s favored status and hate him as a result.

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The story opens with both a persistent promise and a persistent problem. The Abrahamic covenant promises – land, descendants, and blessing – seem to be partially coming to fruition. Jacob is blessed with twelve sons, more than his forefathers Abraham and Isaac combined. They still dwell in the land of Canaan which God promised to Abraham and his descendants nearly two hundred years before. The “generations of Jacob” (Genesis 37:2) seem hopeful and anticipatory.

Yet, like every story in Genesis, the persistent promises of God seem to be constantly under attack. Although Jacob has many sons, he favors Joseph above the others. He makes him a “tunic of many colors” to show his special affection. The phrase “tunic of many colors” is used only once again, in 2 Samuel 13:18, to refer to garments worn by King David’s daughter. The royal undertones are unmistakable, especially in light of the earlier promises from God that a king will come from the line of Abraham (Genesis 17:6, 16; 27:29; 35:11). The robe is more than a sign of favored status, it points towards Joseph as the chosen royal son anticipated throughout the book of Genesis.

Instead of blessing their newly minted royal brother, Jacob’s favoritism incites deep hatred against Joseph. Sibling strife is not new in the storyline of Genesis. The stories of Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau are all examples of fierce fraternal conflict. When they see the favor of Jacob towards Joseph, the brothers seethe with hatred so deeply they cannot even speak peaceably to him. Their actions and words are all infected by the biting poison of jealousy.

Significantly, “peaceably” (Genesis 37:4) comes from the word shalom, which means completeness or wholeness. Familial strife of any kind fractures shalom or the wholeness of a family. Whether in the form of unfair favoritism, an overconfident little brother, or boiling brotherly jealousy, when sin is sown in a family it only reaps destruction.

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The Apostle Paul warns us of the effects of sin in 1 Corinthians 5:6: “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” Although leaven is small and seemingly insignificant, the whole loaf of bread rises and falls with its presence. Jacob’s seemingly trivial favoritism plants seeds of deep jealousy that later grow into hatred and betrayal. Like Jacob, sin infects every part of who we are and insidiously spreads destruction in our lives, our families, and our communities. Paul provides a straightforward, although difficult remedy: “Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

This week, we want to invite you to spend time purging the old leaven in your life. While addressing our sin is awkward, hard, and uncomfortable, not addressing our sin is devastating and deadly. Today, pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate where the leaven of sin might be spreading in your life, family, and community. Then, pray for the courage and boldness to bring sin to light. Fight against every ounce of flesh that tells you sin is not serious, other people cannot be trusted, or that you are too sinful to be forgiven. Take some time to write down specific sins, confess them to the Lord, and seek His forgiveness. The Bible invites us to confess our sins to one another so that we might be healed (James 5:16) – consider sharing what you write down with your group or group leader this week.