Rev. Don Campbell
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 24, 2019: JACOB’S CONFLICT-HABITUATED FAMILY [Gen 35-37]
Jacob has returned to the land of his father’s sojournings. He had left as a bachelor and returned with a huge conflict-habituated family and much wealth (30:43; 32:10). The stage had been set for the conflict between Jacob’s sons years before when Laban had tricked Jacob into marrying the homely Leah instead of the lovely Rachel. The sisters had competed not only for Jacob’s affection but for the right of being the mother of the heir apparent. Two wives, two concubines, and 12 sons are a recipe for conflict.
Add to the natural dynamics of a multi-mother family the dreams of the favorite son Joseph (Gen 37:1-11) and the stage is set for bringing out the worst in a conflict-habituated family. Even the young children, if they have ever attended Sunday school, know the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, but there is more to the story.
Three dynamics surface in the narrative: covetousness [jealousy] (37:11), conspiracy (37:18), cruelty (37:.29-35).
The first two speak for themselves. In 37:29-35 we see the cruel callousness of all but one of the brothers, Reuben. Not only did they treat Joseph cruelly by throwing him into a pit and then selling him, they callously ripped out the heart of their father when they presented to him the coat of many colors which they had dipped in blood: “When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, ‘The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?’ Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, ‘This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.’ And he identified it and said, ‘It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.’ Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, ‘No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.”
We had no say about our family of origin, no choice as to our mother or father. We may have been born into a conflict-habituated family, but we do have a choice as to whether we will perpetuate the conflict.
“The following words, which are a modification of a song written by Jill Jackson-Miller and sung by the International Children’s Choir are a good starting place: “Let there be peace in the family and let it begin with me.”
CONNECTIONS
1. Although some sibling rivalry is normal, it becomes unhealthy when parents either intentionally or unintentionally promote it. How was it promoted in Jacob’s family of origin and in his own nuclear family?
2. There is sometimes sibling rivalry between brothers and sisters in Christ. Although there is no evidence that Paul, Peter, and Apollos promoted this rivalry, how does it manifest itself at Corinth (1 Cor 1:10-17; 3:1-4)?
