The Sons of Jacob

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.

Jacob has now settled in Canaan and now we have children bringing new experiences and maturity to him. There are two sons of Jacob who are really successful and blessed according to Jacob himself blessing his sons in chapter 49. It is required and useful for us to compare these sons with our pursuits and desires. We love many things but there is one thing that consumes all our efforts in our life which at most times becomes a home loan or children’s education. These are good to pursue and not evil and there are other evil ones like drunkenness, pornography etc. In the end there are only two children who become useful and only their lives matter. They are Judah and Joseph. These two sons are only blessed by Jacob.

Even from the names of these sons as in Chapters 29 and 30 we can see some hints. Praise (Judah) points to the relationship we have with God. Adding (Joseph) points to the relationship we have with others (neighbors). Based on this understanding if we study the relationship between Jacob and his sons we would understand what our priorities are. Jacob should point to our worship and Joseph would be compared to our ministry. There are two commandments Jesus had emphasized in Mathew 22:36-40.

The importance of Judah is seen in Genesis 29:35. Leah had stopped bearing after producing Judah the son of promise who is needed. All God actually needs is to bring forth his Son of promise to us and for this our sincere relationship with God is very much sufficient.  But our choices and further desires require us to further love our neighbors (ministry) using what we love so that the ministry would grow up powerful than all our other plans and bring us closer to God. Our love and responsibility towards others like Joseph did in Egypt would bring us closer to God.

Joseph dreamed about all the efforts of the brothers bowing down to that of Joseph’s. All our earnings like education and wealth will bow down if we toil hard in building God’s kingdom. At a stage even our love to God gives way to God’s work because ministry compliments our obedience. At last our flesh and soul would also bow before our love towards others.

During situations like famine and torture, winning souls would provide us will enough food and encouragement. Talking to and working hard for others’ problems would bring us wonderful maturity and give opportunities for Judah, our worship to be meaningful. Also we need to understand that ministry is more tempting and challenging than all our other efforts. But it is fruitful more than others if we care to do His will. Stephen was the first to be appointed to take care of tables, but he became the first martyr with appreciation that he performed great wonders.

Gen 37:4 shows how hard it is for our other priorities to give way for the Lord’s work. Especially if we consider ourselves high like the first born, it would be hard for others to cope well with our efforts for the Lord. This is the need of Joseph where every other desire would be brought together in humility as Joseph grows up in productivity. As in Isaiah 58:10-11, our garden is well watered because of our love towards others.

One mistake Jacob did was to send Joseph to his other brothers. He wanted Joseph to be aligned with the others and not rebuking the sons who were not right. We also make this mistake and then create more confusion in our life. If our priority would be that our ministry should prosper well, it is required that we accept the separation and allow our desire for serving souls to consume our other desires. If Jacob had handled this wisely, it would have been a much better situation.

There will be situations when our earthly desires would strip every honor in serving God. It is not an outsider that brings discouragement to our service to God, it is our own body and plans. They would consume us completely and try to kill it. But if we allow this calling to prosper through temptation and training, we will be serving God like Joseph did and then make way for God’s kingdom.

Amen.