Corruption In The Family
Genesis 37. The rest of Genesis will focus on Joseph. Today we see the corruption in his family. Jacob’s family is in a hostile environment. They are strangers in this land. They do not possess this land…yet! They are covenant people in covenant with God, and one day they will possess it. So you’d think they would band together in order to survive. Instead, they are at each others throats. There is trouble in the tribe.
Today, our families are in a hostile environment. 50% of marriages are ending in divorce. That’s just the ones that go down to the court house and make it legal. Many more are divorced even though they live in the same house, drive the same car, and eat at the same table. They just haven’t made it official yet. There’s much fighting and many broken homes. There is an enemy out there, called Satan, who wants to destroy your family and mine. And yet we, like Jacob’s family, can’t see the bigger picture.
So the question is how does a family survive today? With our text before us I think we can answer that question by asking another question. What is destroying our families? If we will learn what’s destroying our families then we can make the necessary changes. We’ve got to know what the problem is in order to produce the solution. Several basic problems we need to identify.
1. GOSSIP (the tongue) Genesis 37:2
Joseph brought back a bad report on his half-brothers. A 3 inch tongue can knock down a 6 foot man. Did you know that the snail has teeth on its tongue? A well known scientist examined a snail's tongue under a microscope and counted 30,000 teeth. Many people have teeth on their tongues. Bodies have been broken, lives destroyed, reputations have been ripped and souls have been slain by the tongue. James says we can tame wild animals, but we can’t tame the tongue (James 3:8). We can tame Flipper, Trigger, Shamu, and Lassie, but we can’t tame the tongue. But God can. If you give Him your tongue? No. If you give Him your heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”, says Jesus. The tongue will destroy your family.
2. FAVORITISM Genesis 37:3
The coat of many colors was more than just a pretty garment. It was a long sleeved robe that was worn by authority; worn by one who would be a future leader. It was an honor normally given to the first born. And of course the dream backs that up. One day Joseph would be over his family. Now Jacob should have known better. He has experienced, first hand, how damaging favoritism is. One might argue, “yea, but it’s God’s will.” Yes it’s God’s will. But it’s the way you go about arriving at God’s will that hurts or blesses. If you go after God’s will God’s way, the journey will be pleasant. But if you go after God’s will your own way, the journey will be miserable. Jacob should have known better. Favoritism will destroy your family.
3. HATRED (bitterness) Genesis 37:4
As you see, one problem breeds another problem. They hated Joseph. Hatred is something that will destroy you. “…those that hate the righteous shall be desolate.” Psalm 34:21. Those who have caused hurt and who have hated all who live righteously will one day find themselves forsaken, wretched, and alone. This family ended up desolate and desperate during the famine and would have to be helped by the one they had previously hated. Hatred will destroy your family.
4. BOASTING Genesis 37:5-10
Joseph’s youthful pride caused friction with his brothers. Joseph thought he was ‘the highest hog at the trough.’ And he would be, one day. But don’t brag about it. Let’s not be so pious. Let us remember that we are saved by grace. Don’t brag about how spiritual you are. This will damage your witness to family members, and you’ll never be able to win them to Jesus.
5. ENVY Genesis 37:11
Envy is a feeling of resentment aroused because of another person’s qualities, possessions or position, and the desire to have them for oneself. Joseph’s brothers envied him because of the favoritism shown him and the position he claimed. When you envy others you hurt them and you. Envy doesn’t enrich you, it empties you. It doesn’t lift you up, it lowers you. When you let envy and jealousy simmer, it then begins to plot- Genesis 37:18-20. Then it erupts-Genesis 37:23-27. Then it deceives-Genesis 37:31-35. When you turn green with envy, you’re ripe for trouble. But a heart full of love has no room for envy. My friend, envy will destroy your family.
Today, our families are in a hostile environment. 50% of marriages are ending in divorce. That’s just the ones that go down to the court house and make it legal. Many more are divorced even though they live in the same house, drive the same car, and eat at the same table. They just haven’t made it official yet. There’s much fighting and many broken homes. There is an enemy out there, called Satan, who wants to destroy your family and mine. And yet we, like Jacob’s family, can’t see the bigger picture.
So the question is how does a family survive today? With our text before us I think we can answer that question by asking another question. What is destroying our families? If we will learn what’s destroying our families then we can make the necessary changes. We’ve got to know what the problem is in order to produce the solution. Several basic problems we need to identify.
1. GOSSIP (the tongue) Genesis 37:2
Joseph brought back a bad report on his half-brothers. A 3 inch tongue can knock down a 6 foot man. Did you know that the snail has teeth on its tongue? A well known scientist examined a snail's tongue under a microscope and counted 30,000 teeth. Many people have teeth on their tongues. Bodies have been broken, lives destroyed, reputations have been ripped and souls have been slain by the tongue. James says we can tame wild animals, but we can’t tame the tongue (James 3:8). We can tame Flipper, Trigger, Shamu, and Lassie, but we can’t tame the tongue. But God can. If you give Him your tongue? No. If you give Him your heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”, says Jesus. The tongue will destroy your family.
2. FAVORITISM Genesis 37:3
The coat of many colors was more than just a pretty garment. It was a long sleeved robe that was worn by authority; worn by one who would be a future leader. It was an honor normally given to the first born. And of course the dream backs that up. One day Joseph would be over his family. Now Jacob should have known better. He has experienced, first hand, how damaging favoritism is. One might argue, “yea, but it’s God’s will.” Yes it’s God’s will. But it’s the way you go about arriving at God’s will that hurts or blesses. If you go after God’s will God’s way, the journey will be pleasant. But if you go after God’s will your own way, the journey will be miserable. Jacob should have known better. Favoritism will destroy your family.
3. HATRED (bitterness) Genesis 37:4
As you see, one problem breeds another problem. They hated Joseph. Hatred is something that will destroy you. “…those that hate the righteous shall be desolate.” Psalm 34:21. Those who have caused hurt and who have hated all who live righteously will one day find themselves forsaken, wretched, and alone. This family ended up desolate and desperate during the famine and would have to be helped by the one they had previously hated. Hatred will destroy your family.
4. BOASTING Genesis 37:5-10
Joseph’s youthful pride caused friction with his brothers. Joseph thought he was ‘the highest hog at the trough.’ And he would be, one day. But don’t brag about it. Let’s not be so pious. Let us remember that we are saved by grace. Don’t brag about how spiritual you are. This will damage your witness to family members, and you’ll never be able to win them to Jesus.
5. ENVY Genesis 37:11
Envy is a feeling of resentment aroused because of another person’s qualities, possessions or position, and the desire to have them for oneself. Joseph’s brothers envied him because of the favoritism shown him and the position he claimed. When you envy others you hurt them and you. Envy doesn’t enrich you, it empties you. It doesn’t lift you up, it lowers you. When you let envy and jealousy simmer, it then begins to plot- Genesis 37:18-20. Then it erupts-Genesis 37:23-27. Then it deceives-Genesis 37:31-35. When you turn green with envy, you’re ripe for trouble. But a heart full of love has no room for envy. My friend, envy will destroy your family.
CONCLUSION: There are more problems here. There’s betrayal, lying, no mercy, and no reconciliation. But I hope you’ve recognized something else. These things will not only destroy your family. They will also destroy the family of God-the church family. How’s the church going to survive in enemy territory? First, we have to be able to identify the problems. And the root of all problems is a problem called ‘sin’. Now, what’s the solution? The solution is Jesus. The solution for Jacob’s family would be Joseph. Later, he’ll be their deliverer in the famine. Joseph is a type of Christ: A foreshadow of Him to come. Note the parallels: Vs.3 His father loved him dearly. Vs.2-A shepherd. Vs.4-Hated by his brothers. Vs.13-14-Sent by his father. Vs.20-Others plotted to harm him. Vs.28-Sold for the price of a slave. What a picture of Jesus! How are you going to survive eternity? How are you going to be delivered? Only by trusting in Jesus. The problem is sin. The solution is Jesus. Have you placed your faith in Him today?
posted by Royce Hendry at
5:28 AM
1 Comments:
Dear Friend,
You're right! The coat of many colors became the object of resentment. Joseph was not envied for his dreams but because Jacob loved him the most and had no problem flaunting it by giving Joseph the coat of many colors. His brothers resented their father for doing this so they used the coat of many colors to report to their father the horrible news about Joseph. Jealousy over favoritism is nothing to be taken lightly, it can destroy the family, even resulting in death.
Keep up the good work.
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