Genesis 37 - Motives Behind Our Actions

Jacob loved Joseph there is no doubt. In giving Joseph a multi-colored robe he certainly wanted there to be no doubt. Joseph loved his father too. He would report on the activities of his brothers in the field to his father holding them accountable for their choices.

I personally don't get the sense that Joseph wanted any harm to come to his brothers; he was just so passionate about doing right that his brothers wrong became exposed.

His brothers didn't just hate him because of the fancy robe his father gave him. Joseph stood apart from his brothers and didn't join them in their antics. Joseph didn't fit in with his brothers in a good way.

His dream of his brothers and even his father bowing to him only added fuel to their bitter fire. Jealousy, shame and hatred just grew and grew leading them to sell their brother Joseph into slavery (their second choice - first was to kill him) and to lie to their father about their deed. They wanted Joseph out of their life. Rather than raising their standard of conduct and attitudes, they wanted to continue as they were without any correction or exposure of misconduct.

It wasn't Joseph that caused them to behave poorly, but their wrong motives. They made wrong choices because their heart was wrong; toward Joseph, their father, and God himself. When we act wrongly, we may blame our circumstances when in truth we have selfishness and bitterness in our hearts.

When we consider our stewardship, we find that it is not always what you do but your motives behind your choices. This is very hard for people who mostly do the "right" thing to consider that church attendance and tithing are not as important as cultivating a close relationship with The Lord so that we align our desires with His.

Whether in financial choices or choices with our time and relationships our heart is exposed by the choices we make. We can't cover it forever with good deeds to make God or others think of us as better than we are.

Today as we begin Holy Week, let's consider our motives and confess wrong attitudes before God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land".

May God richly bless you as you seek him and as you serve him.