Life Is A Family Affair

During this special season of Lent, we focus on being more like Jesus! One of the ways we learn how to grow in the ways of CHRIST is through studying more about the lives of Biblical families.

We know about twin brothers Esau and Jacob. Our hearts are thankful they finally, by the mercy and grace of God, mended their very long, hurtful, and poor relationship. But do families live happily ever after? Not if we look at the sons of Jacob.

Joseph is a truly gifted and special boy! One of his many gifts involves his dreams. Remember this about him! Brother problems are in this family still! Joseph is Jealously envied by all of His big brothers. Well-loved by His father, Jacob!

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he had been born to him in his old age, and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

 

He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

 

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Genesis 37:3-8

The older brothers were so filled with anger, jealousy, and mischief that they planned to kill Joseph.

You most likely remember Jacob and his twin Esau, who were as different as night and day; wet and dry; hot and cold were these two! The entire family watched this reconciliation unfold and Joseph, who is Jacob’s son, must have had his iPad; iPhone, and camera ready to record ALL the details.

Well, God must have planted the step-by-step process deep within this young boy’s heart and mind.

Back-to-Joseph and His older brothers…

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

 

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

 

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.”

 

Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

 

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

 

As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

 

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Genesis 37

 

Thinking Joseph has been attacked and killed, Jacob is totally devastated. Jacob has no idea that he’s been tricked by his sons, who have not only lied but also sold Joseph many miles from home and family!

What are some of your feelings about these events?

______________________

Which of the brothers seems to show compassion towards Joseph?

Jacob and Esau were reconciled. Do you think the same can happen to Joseph and his brothers? ______________________

 

Send us your thoughts by completing the comment section below! Come back to read more about families.

Prayer:

Thank You, God, for families! Your ideas and Your plans are always in Your loving care! We admit sometimes we make a mess of what You have made as beautiful! Yet, there is always hope! Praise You for taking our sins, sorrows, and selfishness and remaking them into Your masterpieces. You are indeed a Miracle Worker! We love and adore You because You first loved us! Amen.

---

©2025 Penelope White Use with author’s permission. Send requests to penywhite@hotmail.com

Penelope Allen White is a wife, mother of two young adult sons, and grandmother. Her passion is for all children and people to have an intimate knowledge of God. She works as a Christian educator, speaker, church school curriculum writer and teacher, workshop facilitator, middle school counselor, and neighborhood tutor. Despite her busy schedule, she still finds time to enjoy a game of hopscotch!