Loved By His Father, Hated By His Brothers

Loved by His Father, Hated by His Brothers

By the time Joseph arrived in Jacob’s family, there was already a houseful of siblings. But “Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age” (Genesis 37:3). The antagonism of Joseph’s brothers toward this favored son grew into outright hatred, which led to their conspiracy to kill him. Ultimately they sold Joseph to slave traders instead and led Jacob to believe that a wild animal had killed him. Jacob’s intense love for Joseph was demonstrated by his overwhelming grief. He refused to be comforted, declaring he would go to his grave in mourning.

Jesus was also the beloved Son of his Father. Three times a voice from heaven affirmed God’s love for his Son. He said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; see also John 12:28).

The intensity of the love Jacob had for his son Joseph was matched by the intensity of the hatred Joseph’s brothers had for him. Genesis 37:4 says, “His brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them.” Jesus, too, was hated by his physical half-brothers as well as his larger Jewish brotherhood for claiming God as his Father. “Even his brothers didn’t believe in him” (John 7:5). “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him” (John 1:11).

In addition to being loved by their fathers and hated by their brothers, Joseph and Jesus were both conspired against by their enemies to be put to death. “When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him” (Genesis 37:18). The hatred of Jesus’ Israelite brothers provoked their evil plan to kill him. After watching Jesus heal on the Sabbath, “the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus” (Mark 3:6).

Joseph was not put to death, though he was presumed dead based on the news from his brothers and the bloodstained robe presented to his father. But Jesus was put to death, and his bloodstained robe was simply gambled away (Matthew 27:35). Jesus, the beloved Son, was killed at the hands of his jealous brothers so that he might offer salvation to them.

Jesus, I catch glimpses of you in the life of Joseph, and I stand in awe of my sovereign God, who could ordain such a life for Joseph. Through him you provided for your people, and you point me toward your Sonship and salvation.