SIBLING RIVALRY-THE STORY OF JOSEPH

WITNESS




10-5-13




SIBLING RIVALRY---THE STORY OF JOSEPH








Picture this


You go to your siblings
Your brothers and or your sisters
And say,
“I had a dream
And in that dream
You all bowed down to me”


Before they can respond, you say,
“I had another dream
And in that dream
The sun, the moon, the stars,
And the whole world bowled down to me”


Most of our siblings
I am sure
Would laugh right in our face
If not,
Belt us one---right in the mouth


Joseph---a young lad of 17
Was already hated by his brothers
Because his father Jacob
Had loved him SO much more


Well Joseph’s brothers
Took it a step further


They threw him in to a ditch
And left him there
Until a group passing by
Saw him there and took him


Talk about brotherly love


They then told their father Jacob
That he was killed by a wild animal
NOT sure themselves
What had happened to him


What was going through the mind
Of the brothers
Maybe jealousy---maybe revenge
Who couldn’t identify with that


“Then the Lord said to Cain,
“Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain replied
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9


Joseph wound up in Egypt
And was sold to Potiphar,
The captain of the guard for Pharaoh


The Lord was HAPPY with Joseph
He prospered---and did well
Until Potiphar’s wife said,
“Come to bed with me”


Joseph responded,
“No one is greater in this house
Than I am
My master has withheld
Nothing from me except you
Because you are his wife
How then can I do
Such a wicked thing
And sin against God” Genesis 39:9


Of course, Potiphar’s wife was irate
Reversed the story---falsely accused Joseph
And Joseph was put into prison


But God had given Joseph
The gift of interpreting dreams
And 2 years later
When he correctly interprets
The pharaoh’s dreams
Joseph is put in charge
Of all of Egypt ( except pharaoh himself )


Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Since God has made this known to you
There is no one
So discerning and wise as you


You shall be in charge
Of my palace
And all my people
Are to submit to your orders


Only with respect
To the throne
Will I be greater than you” Genesis 41:39-40


Who---if any of us
Hasn’t experienced some sibling rivalry
In our life
Particularly when we were young and naïve


“How good is it
When brothers live together in unity” Psalm 133:1


Eventually 7 years of famine strikes the land
And Jacob send all ten of his sons to Egypt
To purchase grain


Initially---they don’t recognize Joseph
And after he plays a trick on them
He forgives his brothers from his heart


The father, Jacob, and the whole family
Move to Egypt


“This is how my heavenly Father
Will treat each of you
Unless you forgive your brother
From your heart” Matthew 18:35


Dear Lord---we pray
That when one of our siblings upset us
In today’s world
That we have the LOVE and FORGIVENESS
Joseph had for his brothers


And personally---I THANK YOU
For the two beautiful sisters
You have given me in this life


Robert P. Wallman
2-1-12




ps WITNESS 10-5-13