HATRED’S EVIL ACTIONS

HATRED’S EVIL ACTIONS

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. —Genesis 37:4-5

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. —Genesis 37:8

His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. —Genesis 37:11

But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. —Genesis 37:18

“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. —Genesis 37:20

Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” —Genesis 37:27

They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.” He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him. Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. —Genesis 37:32-36

Hate unchecked can lead to terrible actions. The hatred that Joseph’s brothers had for him did exactly that. They hated him to the point where they were going to kill him and would have if it wasn’t for the input of Reuben who wanted to rescue Joseph from his brothers and Judah who also did not want to kill Joseph, but instead sell him.

Can you imagine that your siblings hating you enough to kill you or to sell you? But, in the last days “you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9). Joseph was hated for his Father’s favor on him and for his dreams. Followers of Jesus will be hated just for being His followers. Yes, hatred unchecked is a powerful evil force that leads to terrible actions. But the greatest commands are to love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40). Obedience to this brings about right actions!

Dear Father, please help me to be faithful to the two great commands that You have given us that my actions would honor You. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR_Rdb1CTE