Who here has siblings or has multiple children? What do we know about sibling rivalry? Why do siblings tend to compete?
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
Jacob/Israel had a favourite, Joseph. It was obvious in the way Jacob treated Joseph. He even made a special coat for him, that Joseph wore. Why wouldn’t he? It made him feel special and reminded him of the bond he had with his father? There would be one more son, Benjamin, who was also given special treatment. In the end, Jacob/Israel had 12 sons – that would lead to the 12 tribes of Israel. He allowed his preferences to influence his relationships with his children which, in turn, influenced the relationships between his sons.
It is hard to live in the shadow of a younger sibling. It is hard to live in the shadow of any sibling. It didn’t help that Joseph didn’t understand his own privilege. He shared his dreams – the ones in which he was destined rule over his brothers. He showed off the beautiful coat his dad had made for him. He brought back bad reports of his brothers to his dad. He saw these as normal things that were totally appropriate, supporting the comfortable life he experienced without ever considering how these things impacted his brothers.
It is easy to see Joseph as a victim of malicious brothers. Can we also see how these brothers were frustrated because they may have felt underappreciated, overlooked, and taken-for-granted? This doesn’t justify their behaviour. It does challenge us to reflect on relationships in general. In what ways do we ensure everyone feels valued and validated?
What might have changed in the context of Jacob’s household if every one of the sons knew that their gifts had a place? Would Joseph’s brothers have felt so resentful if they knew that they were each appreciated and valued for their contributions to the family? What does it look like to create an environment where each person knows that who they are matters? How do we seek to do this in our context? What do we do here to ensure that folxs know that every person’s gifts are appreciated?
Possible examples: opportunity for conversation in worship where every contribution is welcomed and valued; space for diversity; no judgement; sharing of gifts encouraged; thank you bank time creates space for people to share gratitude and stories; people are encouraged to be themselves
Human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image and likeness of God. When we embrace this truth for each and every person, we discover possibilities that are more than we can ask or imagine. Such is the wonder and grace of God working in and through God’s Beloved Creation. May we trust God’s gifts continually seeking to respect the dignity of every human being through reciprocal relationships. This we pray as we sing: 418 Draw the Circle Wide