 Envy
So many of the problems that we face today in our world stem from greed and pride. We have expectations about how we deserve to be treated. I believe that this sense of justice comes from the fact that we know that we bear God’s image even in our fallen state, and that image bearers should be treated appropriately for the Lord’s sake. The problem is that, since we are fallen, we have abdicated and abandoned the state of righteousness that deserves favorable treatment. In our current sinful condition humanity deserves justice. But we envy those who are receiving something we want or who we think deserve less than us. This sinful attitude does great harm to our relationships with others as we feel mistreated and abused. Even worse, this has destroyed our relationship with God because, even if we would not say it this way, the only one who we could be blaming for our wrongful mistreatment is God Himself. Of course, God is not at fault, but that is what we are implying when our desire gives birth to sin (James 1:12-15). Brotherly Rivalry We see many occasions in the scripture that teach us about this kind of envious sin. One example is in the account of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37. My intention is not to exegete this entire passage here but only to make a couple of relevant points. First, the brothers are predisposed to envy by Jacob’s blatant favoritism. The Bible has much to say about the sin of partiality (Leviticus 19:15; James 2:1-13). It is not true that we owe everyone the same affection regardless of the state of the relationship. And Israel was within his rights as a father to give to one son and not give to all. But it is clear in the text that Jacob was favoring Joseph with a kind of implicit disregard for the other sons. I am not making an excuse for them, only desiring to deal fairly with the account. The brothers are next driven to great anger by Joseph’s disclosure of his prophetic dreams. I think that many of us assume something that the text doesn’t say. Often when I read this I think that I read Joseph as having a smug or arrogant tone. But I don’t think the text supports this analysis. Instead upon careful reading it seems that Joseph is simply reporting dreams that he believes are or could be from the Lord. But as we often do with news we don’t like, the brothers take out their displeasure on the messenger. The point is that the men who were destined to be the headwaters of the individual tribes of Israel succumbed to violent and heartless sinning against their own brother because of their pride and envy. Jacob was plunged into great grief and despair. Ultimately, they were not immediately served by their treacherous sin. If God had not sovereignly appointed Joseph to this saving ministry then they would have perished in the coming famine. Humble Homes Under the affliction of the severe famine that God brought on the world in those days the patriarchs were humbled into seeking relief in the wealth of Egypt. But in God’s glorious providence they not only found food but also that God delivered Joseph and established him as leader over the affairs of Egypt. It was Yahweh’s provision and not simply Egyptian wealth that saved the Hebrew people. As the brothers came in necessary humility to the feet of Joseph, just as he had dreamed, it was not Joseph who was exalted but Yahweh who was vindicated in fulfillment of His great and powerful promises (Genesis 42-45).
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