Seventeen year old boys are not known for their
restraint. Modified mufflers and revving
engines announce the arrival of some teenage boy into our usually quiet
neighborhood. So, Joseph was not unlike
modern teens when he strutted around in his ornamental coat. The robe that was a special gift from his
father; a richly decorated robe that declared his position as the favored
son. Nor is it surprising to see Joseph
deliver a bad report about his brothers in an attempt to win even more favor
with his father. Seventeen year old boys
will often compete with their brothers especially trying to one-up older
siblings. Anger and jealousy are the
natural response from the brothers in question, but in a family with a history
of dysfunction such pomp is only going to lead to bad circumstances.
One night God reveals the future to Joseph in a dream. The dream reveals that Joseph’s family will
bow down before him. Being true to form
Joseph brags about the dream to his brothers bringing their anger to a
climax. In their rage they begin to plot
Joseph’s murder.
It is interesting to note that the dream was true and the
events would come to pass. In a few
short chapters we will find Joseph’s family bowing to him. However, truth is not always met with
receptivity. We can speak truth in the
lives of people and be met with anger and hate.
Jesus spoke truth and was murdered for it. We need to be careful about how and when we
speak truth. Ephesians 4:15 tells us
that we need to speak the truth in love.
Too often we speak truth to show superiority, to boast of our knowledge,
or to prove someone else wrong. These
abuses of power will overshadow the truth and result in anger or jealousy. There is no room for pomp in the life of a
Christian. Follow the example of the
apostle Paul who said he could only boast in Christ Jesus. Likewise, learn from Joseph. God revealed truth to Joseph and he used that
knowledge to rule over his brothers. We,
who have truth, need to be wise in how we speak that truth to the world. We need to speak the truth in love.
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