LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #62 : JOSEPH
written by: Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3563
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #62
JACOB'S FAVOURITE SON: JOSEPH.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3 NKJV).
The question of why Jacob gave a coat of many colors is a point we have to consider.
Although he had eleven other sons, Jacob’s favor clearly rested upon the second-youngest son, Joseph.
Jacob loved Joseph more than all the other boys. As one might imagine, this overt favoritism created a dangerous schism among the brothers.
The older boys hated Joseph because he received his father’s undivided attention and affection.
Their open contempt created a common bond that eventually resulted in a family mutiny and Joseph’s hostile banishment into Egyptian slavery.
What finally triggered his brother's envy and jealousy into open animosity was the coat of many colors. Jacob presented the special coat to Joseph as a sign that Joseph was esteemed above his brothers. The coat signified Joseph as being Jacob’s choice as the future head of the clan—an honor normally bestowed upon the firstborn son.
It is interesting to consider that no fault or sin of Joseph is mentioned in Scripture. (The only other Old Testament hero to receive such a favorable review is the prophet, Daniel.) Joseph’s life was one of character, courage, conviction, and commitment.
He was also the firstborn of Jacob's beloved Rachel.
it is understandable that Jacob favored him above the others; nevertheless, Jacob’s lopsided affections resulted in much family grief and tragedy.
What lessons do we learn from Jacob's favoritism?
Never show favoritism toward any one child. Much harm can come from it.
Jacob (Israel) had been reared by parents who each had their favorites. The favoritism that had spoiled the tranquility of his childhood home was about to wreck his family, too.
Jacob even in old age did not learn this hard lesson. When Joseph was reported to have been killed, Jacob turned his favoritism towards Benjamin the younger brother of Joseph and the second son of Rachel.
This was Jacob's one blind spot that will haunt him throughout the rest of his life.
