Genesis 37:12-28 // Haters
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So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
This was a foolish idea.
Joseph’s brother hated him.
Favorite son
Special robe (assumedly worn like a symbol of authority)
Special dream
2nd special dream
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.
Their actions were not a sin of passion that was created in the moment.
It was a result of the hatred they had been carrying around in their hearts.
(Bold statement)
Hate is a decision.
You can decide not to hate.
It’s not always an easy decision,
but it is a decision.
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
How do you respond to an offense?
Joseph’s brothers could have handled the issue differently from the beginning.
Joseph was the 2nd to the youngest, a teenager,
The brothers could have explained to him his offenses.
The moment they let hatred set in their hearts, they started down a path that would lead to murder if they had not decided to sell their brother into slavery.
Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
You will tend to justify your hate, even if it’s illogical.
They point to the source of their hated, Joseph’s dreams as if the offense and the plan were even remotely equal.
But in their minds it was.
Hate tends to distort the offenses of the other person, and over-amplify your justification of it.
“First, get the log out of your own eye...”
This is NOT an offering for atonement.
It is a crucial step needed to resolve conflict and avoid the destruction of bitterness & hate.
One of the most serious dangers of hate is that we deny what it leads to.
Genesis 37:24 (ESV)
24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Genesis 37:25 (ESV)
25 Then they sat down to eat…
Hate causes you to dehumanize the object of our hatred.
OK but this has nothing to do with me. I would NEVER kill someone. I don’t think I even hate anyone.
· This was probably the same opinion of the Jews that Jesus spoke to. Here is what he told them.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
This was not even hate yet....it is anger
Jesus was not “re-writing” the command not to murder….He was explaining it.
Jesus was pointing to the source.
Jesus was not saying anger is like murder, He was saying it was the same as murder.