A Coat Shortage
A Coat Shortage
Genesis 37:3-4
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him…
We can’t really judge Jacob for having a deeper sentimental bond with Joseph any more than we can judge him for desiring to marry Rachel rather than Leah, because love is exclusive like that. Don’t we love our own children more than our neighbor’s kids? Don’t we find other infants snotty and awkward but our own newborns downright adorable? Don’t we love our spouses more than anyone else in the world—or shouldn’t we? And we don’t just say “I love you” either. We pour out our affection in extravagant ways, from flowers to jewelry to weekend getaways to surprise parties to coats of many colors, because love can’t be bottled up inside. Either the dam will eventually burst or our hearts will.
Friend, resentment grows in Jacob’s household after Genesis 37 not because Jacob loves Joseph too lavishly, but because he loves his other boys too little. So today, keep weaving coats for the Josephs in your life. But weave some for the Rubens and Levis too.