And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him. Genesis 37:4.
The sin of Jacob, and the train of events to which it led, had not failed to exert an influence for evil—an influence that revealed its bitter fruit in the character and life of his sons. As these sons arrived at manhood they developed serious faults. The results of polygamy were manifest in the household. This terrible evil tends to dry up the very springs of love, and its influence weakens the most sacred ties. The jealousy of the several mothers had embittered the family relation, the children had grown up contentious and impatient of control, and the father’s life was darkened with anxiety and grief.
There was one, however, of a widely different character—the elder son of Rachel, Joseph, whose rare personal beauty seemed but to reflect an inward beauty of mind and heart. Pure, active, and joyous, the lad gave evidence also of moral earnestness and firmness. He listened to his father’s instructions, and loved to obey God…. His mother being dead, his affections clung the more closely to the father, and Jacob’s heart was bound up in this child of his old age. He “loved Joseph more than all his children.”
But even this affection was to become a cause of trouble and sorrow. Jacob unwisely manifested his preference for Joseph, and this excited the jealousy of his other sons…. The father’s injudicious gift to Joseph of a costly coat, or tunic, … excited a suspicion that he intended to pass by his elder children, to bestow the birthright upon the son of Rachel. Their malice was still further increased as the boy one day told them of a dream that he had had….
As the lad stood before his brothers, his beautiful countenance lighted up with the Spirit of Inspiration, they could not withhold their admiration; but they did not choose to renounce their evil ways, and they hated the purity that reproved their sins. The same spirit that actuated Cain was kindling in their hearts.
Conflict and Courage p. 72
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Prayer Requests
—–My granddaughter had a motorcycle accident and is in the hospital; with injuries. Please put on the prayer chain. thank you. M
—–B is still in need of a good-paying job. Please pray for that. L
—–Kamerah is sick again. Please keep her in prayer.
—–Mr. B’s wife had a massive stroke yesterday. But expected to make it. Please pray for them. LG
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Dear Friends,
It seems that so many are dying of late that I thought it would be good to think about the resurrection that takes place at Jesus’ coming.
Paul said, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have
put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?The sting of death is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch
as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1Cor 15:51-58
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words. 1 Thes 4:16,17 Jesus is coming very soon! His coming is near,
“even at the doors.” Matt 24:33 We will see our loved ones again! We
will again fellowship with those snatched from us by death. When Jesus
comes, mothers will receive their little ones who were wrenched from
their grasp by the enemy. When Jesus comes, our sorrows will vanish, our
joys will be “new every morning.” because He is full of compassion and
love for us. What a wonderful God we serve! What a powerful King! He
is the Creator of all the universe, yet, he loves each one of us so much
that He longs to become involved in every aspect of our lives. He longs to be invited into our hearts. Rev 3:20
May we invite our loving, compassionate
Friend to dwell on the throne of our hearts that someday soon we may look
up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will
save us: this is the LORD; we
have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa
25:9
For more information on what happens when we die, please go to www.truthaboutdeath.com
Rose