Blinded by ambition, Wounded by favoritism
Pride. Power. Position. What is it that drives us and that makes us do the things that we do? For Joseph's brothers it was jealousy, pride, and hatred that moved them to want to kill him (Gen. 37:3-4). " When his brothers saw that their father loved him the best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him ." It was this jealousy and envy that plagued the brothers. Perhaps it was jealousy that was somewhat "justified." Favoritism, at least overt favoritism and when outwardly displayed, will always lead to discord and pain. As wrong as it was for the brothers to act out of jealousy, the father was also in the wrong. As a father, Israel should have known better than to love one child over the others and to make it so obvious, putting not only the other sons in a jealous state, but also putting Joseph in an awkward position. Joseph himself may also have taken advantage of this favoritism and failed to show humility. A fat