Joseph’s brothers sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt.Genesis 37:28
Joseph was born long ago in the Middle East. He had many older brothers. Their father Jacob loved his young son Joseph very much and gave him a gift of a beautiful coat.
None of Joseph’s brothers had ever received a gift like that from their father. They became angry and jealous. They coveted what their brother had and hated Joseph for it.
We find this kind of fraternal jealousy quite common in our large African families. Maybe you also experienced it in your family.
One day, when the brothers were far from home, they took Joseph’s coat from him. They sold Joseph to slave traders headed for Egypt. Then they killed a goat and covered Joseph’s coat with the blood. Back at home, they showed the coat to their father and told him that wild animals had killed Joseph. Father Jacob was overcome with grief.
But God did not abandon Joseph when he was a slave in Egypt. And God did not abandon the angry brothers or their grieving father. God cared about this family and, many years later, brought them back together. They were reconciliated to live together in peace.
Centuries later Jesus, a descendant of Jacob, was born. Jesus healed the sick and fed the hungry. The leaders day saw this and became envious of Jesus’ great power and popularity. They hated Jesus like Joseph’s brothers hated Joseph. They had Jesus killed. But God did not abandon Jesus in the grave. God showed his great power by bringing Jesus back to life.
Today, through Gospel broadcasts, God continues to shows his powerby freeing listeners from envy and coveting to discover a life of peace and contentment in Christ.
Prayer Father in Heaven, forgive our resentments toward those who have more than we do. Thank you because you value and care for us, even when we suffer injustice like Joseph and Jesus. Amen
