FAIRNESS 1 - Where there's favoritism, there's also envy.

Fairness 1 - English files 

Fairness 1 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Favoritism in Jacob’s Family

When I think about the dynamics of this family, my first question is: Why did Jacob, who was hurt by his father’s favoritism, carry it on with his own kids?

The only answer I can come up with is that most of us instinctively follow patterns of behavior we learned in childhood—even those we’ve experienced as being nega­tive. Thus addictions tend to run in families over generations, and even rebellious kids end up more like their parents than they’d ever like to admit.

Of course there are kids who don’t do this, and Joseph is one of these exceptions. Before his abduction and exile, he may have been on a track to repeat his father’s and grandfather’s mistake, especially as he was the favored one. But after he was ripped out of a universe that had revolved around him, he had time without his family to reflect as well as a pressing need to trust God for survival.

Early on he was noted for how God’s presence in his life made him stand out (Genesis 39:3,21-23). At the reunion years later, his forgiveness and acceptance toward his brothers showed the maturity and character that God had forged in his life (45:4-12).

Lord, keep me seeking the nearness to You. Let others notice the difference You make in a person’s life.

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