Missionary Broadcasting.com

“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 colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” As we begin the story of Joseph, we can’t help but feel somewhat sorry for his brothers. It was clear that Jacob loved him most, and we recognize how parental favoritism often creates resentment, therefore we are tempted to give the brothers a pass. The truth that shakes us from our momentary empathy is that all relational sins have a cause. The fact is, we are often prompted to sin against another because of something they have done (or been) to make us angry. This is no excuse whatsoever for sin. Certainly Jacob was wrong; and I would not be surprised if Joseph took a moment to flaunt his coat, which would also have been wrong. Still, no man can use another man’s evil to justify his own. Be careful not to use the actions of others as justification. Let’s be hard to offend and quick to forgive, so as not to follow in the footsteps of Joseph’s brethren.