Day 14, or January the 14th. Joseph is the favourite,
and it shows. Our thought today is rooted in
Genesis, chapter 37, verse 3. 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. First, the big picture
surrounding this verse. Ten of the sons of Jacob,
now called Israel, are grown men and working
hard in the family business. Jacob's two babies
are still at home. Joseph is just a teenager
and his younger brother Benjamin, who is no more
than a child. The ten brothers, plus the two
youngsters, will eventually grow into the twelve
tribes of Israel. Joseph is a bit of a dreamer
and naively shares his amazing dreams with his
brothers, who instantly dislike him because of
them. To cap it all, he is given an ornate robe,
better known today as the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
The design of it is such that you can't wear
it and work at the same time. Only the heir to
the family fortune will wear such a garment.
and as the eleventh of twelve brothers, it doesn't
seem right to them that it is worn by Joseph.
His brothers sell him into slavery, and tell
his father that wild animals have killed him.
This news almost kills the old man. Joseph serves
in Egypt in the house of Potiphar, but is unfairly
dismissed and thrown into jail. And now our action
step for today. It's acceptable to have a favourite
chair at home. It's okay to have a favourite
book or a favourite meal, but it is totally unacceptable
to have a favourite child, and even worse to
make it public. In every family there are times
when one child is more likeable than their brother
or sister, but all of them are to be equally
loved. Liking is something we can choose to do
or not. Loving is a commandment that Jesus gave
us and we have no choice. Even when we don't
like someone, we are commanded to love them.
So be as lovable as you know how today and make
it easy for someone to love you.