“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age…But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more…they hated him…”
Genesis 37:3-4 (NKJV)
The account of Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son, is a story of love but also one of pain and betrayal. Jacob loved this child more than he loved all the other sons and made no effort to conceal his feelings. He must have spent much time teaching values and demonstrating godliness to this child, apart from giving him gifts. This sparked jealousy from his half-brothers, who did not think it evil to kill him, but God protected him because there was a purpose to his life.
When we appear to show favour to one child above another in a family, it can spark jealousy and hate and bring pain to that family. Children’s feelings can be hurt, and they become resentful unless we can convince them that they are all loved equally by both parents. Our heavenly Father loves us equally and wants us to love each other as He loves us.
In the Gospel of Luke, an account is given of the younger of two sons who demanded his inheritance from his father and left home immediately to squander it in wild living. When he had exhausted it all and had nothing to eat but pigs’ food, he returned home. The father welcomed him, but his older brother was angry and deeply resentful because an errant brother was being well treated while he, the older one who remained and worked with his dad, never received any commendation. (Luke 15:11-32).
Parents may be unaware that their behaviour toward each individual child is under scrutiny and can be interpreted as partial. Fathers play a critical role in child rearing and must strive to emulate our heavenly Father in consistently demonstrating loving correction toward their children, equally. Children must not feel guilty, hurt, or loved less because they lack the qualities a parent admires in a sibling. Yes, we are to love like our heavenly Father.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the sons and daughters You gifted us. May we always remember the Psalmist’s words: ‘Children are a heritage from the Lord and like arrows in the hand of a warrior,’ may we point them in the right direction and stretch our bows to send them far and wide in their service to You. Amen.
Read: Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 2:1-5
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 71:9-18; Acts 4:23-37; Acts 5:1-11; 2 Samuel 13