Athlete, Love is The Cure

*This series was written by the AIA staff team at the University of Virginia

Read Genesis 37

Favoritism. Jealousy. Hatred. Pride. Increasing Hatred. Murder. Slave-trading. Deceit ... Mourning. Hope you are having a pleasant day.

Jacob should have learned his lesson about favoritism from his childhood. His own father, Isaac, played favorites against him, even though God had chosen Jacob to bear the covenant promises.   And Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, should have humbly kept his dreams of grandeur to himself, even though the dreams were from God. Nevertheless, God again works in the midst of all kinds of evil to bring about his glorious purposes.

Joseph is not perfect, as we have already seen, and of course the Scripture only gives us a few brief glimpses into his life, but Scripture clearly shows that Joseph's life foreshadows the greater righteousness, suffering, mercy, blessing, wisdom, and victory of Christ in uncanny ways. Even in this chapter, Joseph's future exaltation over his people is foreseen. Yet before he is exalted, his own people despise him, mock him, strip him, argue over what to do with him, sell him for some silver, and essentially leave him for dead. These are the very same people he would later save.

Questions for Reflection & Prayer

1. Put yourself in Joseph's place and walk through what that day of betrayal would have been like.  When he woke up that day, Joseph had no idea what would happen.  Jesus knew that day was coming for him, yet He willingly and determinedly walked toward it in order to save us. Is there anything that could separate you from such love? (See Romans 8:31-39 if you do not know the answer.)

2. Who are the people in your life who do not yet know this love?

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