Today's Reading: Genesis 37
"Hated for a Dream"
Joseph was
one of the twelve sons of Jacob and was Jacob's favorite. His brothers observed
Jacob's overt favoritism and they resented Joseph for it. Then, Joseph had a
dream in which he saw his brothers bowing down to him, which made them angry
and more resentful - to the point of hatred.
This verse can be seen as a lesson about the dangers of envy and jealousy, as Joseph's brothers became even more resentful of him after he shared his dream with them. Their hatred eventually culminated in the act of selling him into slavery.
Whatever Joseph's imperfections,
he did not merit what his brothers did to him.
Jesus once
told a parable about a vineyard owner who gave equal wages to workers who
worked different hours (Matthew 20:1-16). This parable highlights the
importance of being content with what one has and not being envious of others'
blessings or accomplishments. Repeatedly in the Gospels, He taught His
followers to overcome negative emotions such as envy and jealousy and to
cultivate love, compassion, and forgiveness instead.
On the flipside, this can
also serve as a reminder to be cautious of how our actions and words may be
perceived by others. Proverbs 29:11 says, "A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back." Perhaps Joseph would have been
wise to quietly hold back the telling of his dream, or at least find a way to
share it in a less offensive way. All of us need to cultivate the ability to
hold our tongue and speak wisely and kindly to others.
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