City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

12 “Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ And he said to him, ‘Here I am.’ 14 So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.’ So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, ‘What are you seeking?’ 16 ‘I am seeking my brothers,’ he said. ‘Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.’ 17 And the man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.’ 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ 22 And Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him’—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”

Genesis 37:12-24 (ESV)

“For he [Pilate] perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him [Jesus] up.”

Mark 15:10 (ESV)

Megan’s Musings

Why was Joseph not working with his brothers in the first place? Maybe because as the favored son, he was exempt from certain chores. Israel (formerly Jacob) wants Joseph to act as a “supervisor” and report on what’s going on with the brothers and the flocks. I’m sure Israel saw how his other sons interacted with Joseph, but was he truly in denial about their animosity? Or did he assume that just because he holds Joseph in high regard that his sons will do the same? 

The distance from Hebron to Shechem is about 50 miles, Dothan is about 13 miles north of Shechem. Why do the brothers go to Dothan? To avoid Joseph? Joseph is known for being a tattletale (Genesis 37:2), maybe he intended to tattle on his brothers. 

The family dysfunction and animosity is very severe and very deep, the brothers hated Joseph so much they wanted him dead. Maybe they interpreted Joseph’s dreams as him inheriting all of the family wealth and being the next patriarch.

The idea of being subservient to a person who is so envied and hated they wish for their death is bitter beyond words. 

Twice it is mentioned that Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph. Although Reuben doesn’t want to do wrong, he doesn’t exactly do right, he could’ve said, as the oldest brother, to forget the plan. Then again, it would have been nine against one (or nine against two, if Joseph was strong enough to hold his own). Maybe he wants to trick his brothers into thinking he intends to let Joseph die of thirst, making them think passive murder would lessen the feelings of guilt later.

They took his robe, the symbol of his status in the family, and threw him into a pit with no water. This passage does not elaborate on Joseph’s reaction, but it is later mentioned he pleaded for mercy (Genesis 42:21). Joseph may have been a pain in the rear end (and I’m being polite when I say that), but he did not deserve this (or what’s to come).

About seventeen hundred years later, during the Roman occupation of Palestine, the chief priests envied, even hated, Jesus for his popularity, and for the fact He was calling out their hypocrisy (and they had plenty). In Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus told a parable of greedy tenants who murdered their master’s son in the hopes of inheriting their master’s wealth, it revealed the chief priests’ envy and greed and foreshadowed what was to come. They hated him so much they were willing to have Him, an innocent man, undergo the worst form of execution.

Application

How do you overcome the green-eyed monster called envy and jealousy? With its opposite. Kindness and generosity. When Jesus’ disciples argued over who was the greatest, Jesus told them that true greatness is measured by humility (Luke 22:24-27). 

But what if you are the victim of somebody’s envy and hatred? Pray for them. Forgive them (Luke 23:34). Show them kindness and generosity: 

19 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:19-26 ESV

Yes, it is SO hard. Which is why you don’t go through this journey alone. Tell someone, ask them to pray with you and for you. 

Prayer

            Dear Lord, help me to overcome the work of the flesh and to practice the fruit of the spirit. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.