Dreams and a Father’s love

By Venessa Holtzhausen

Gen 37:4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak to him in shalom.
Gen 37:5 Then Joseph dreamed a dream and told his brothers – and they hated him even more.

The statement Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons brings forward a motif that played an important role in the family of Isaac – parental favoritism. Jacob surely knew what that had done to him and his brother Esau, and to his own family. But now he showers affection on Rachel’s son Joseph.

In many families around the world we find the same situation. One child favoured above the other. This created a hate towards Joseph. How many parents are the direct cause of hatred among children. We as parents can be the greatest asset to our children or we can create the biggest harm to our children. It is said that you usually love a child less who is most like you.

Then we have the dreams. Sometimes God will show us things, but we are not suppose to speak about it. When you share things out of time, it can have disastrous affects. Joseph was even more hated by sharing Godly visions. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

Amen!