Readings for today: Genesis 35-37, Psalm 11
The besetting sin of humanity is selfishness. From the moment we fell in the Garden of Eden, we turned inward, elevating “self” over everything and everyone else. We prioritize self over family. We prioritize self over friends. We even prioritize self over God. The checkered and often tragic history of the human race is replete with examples of human beings acting in their own sinful self-interest. On a micro level this results in broken relationships. On a macro level this results in all kinds of conflict and injustice. When you combine sinful self-interest with opportunity, power, and a certain level of authority, we human beings become capable of terrible evil.
Consider what happens in our reading today. Jacob/Israel acts in his own self-interest by privileging his favorite son of his favorite wife over his older brothers. In doing so, he breaks all kinds of cultural conventions and creates a situation where Joseph’s brothers feel deeply threatened. After all, what happens if Jacob/Israel should decide to make Joseph the leader of the family? This threatens their potential position in the line of succession and puts their inheritance at risk. This was no small thing in the ancient near east which is why they hatch a plot to get rid of Joseph. It isn’t simple jealousy driving their decisions but sinful self-interest. Furthermore, their decision to sell Joseph rather than kill him also is driven by sinful self-interest. What profit do they gain from his death? Better to sell him and get rid of him. It accomplishes the same purpose and rids them not only of a nuisance but also a rival for their father’s affection, position, and wealth.
Thankfully God is at work. He bends even our sinful self-interest to His divine purposes. Joseph’s brothers have no idea at this point in the story that the decision they make to sell Joseph into slavery will end up saving their lives and that of their families. They have no idea at this point in the story that God is orchestrating things, turning what they intend for evil into good. This is always how God works. He takes every decision we make - even the ones driven by our own sinful self-interest - and uses it bring about His good in our lives. This doesn’t mean it always feels good. Joseph’s brothers are going to go through a lot of pain and hardship and suffering. Joseph himself will undergo all kinds of pain and hardship and suffering. But in the end, God uses their sinful decisions to bring about their salvation and this gives us hope for our lives as well.
Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 38-40, Psalm 12