## Lessons from Joseph: Beware of Envy

## Genesis 37

Tonight we want to look again at the life of Joseph and learn a lesson. Paul explained in reference to events of the Old Testament that God wants us to learn from those events.

(1 Cor 10:11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The lesson for this evening is one on the dangers of envy. Envy is defined as painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another along with the desire to possess that same advantage. It is illustrated by the following story: A man took his brand new Cadillac back to the dealer because he noticed a distinctive rattle in the door. Upon investigation the mechanic found a bolt inside the door with a note attached to it. The note read: 'It serves you right. You are too rich!' The Pharisees hated Jesus' popularity with the people. It was envy that caused them to falsely charge Him and bring Him before Pilate.

(Mat 27:18) For he [Pilate] knew that for envy they had delivered him.

I. The Breeding Ground for Envy

A. Jacob's favorite wife was Rachel.

B. Her son was Joseph…it was 12 years before she had another son (Benjamin).

C. He was the youngest of all of Jacob's sons and received much attention.

D. Not much is said of Joseph's childhood, but at 12 he lost his mother as she gave birth to his only full brother Benjamin.

E. We are told of Jacob's great love for Joseph and of the special coat given to him to express that love.

(Gen 37:3) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

F. Verse 4 tells us that every other one of Jacob's sons was painfully aware of their father's favoritism, and they hated Joseph for it.

II. The Results of Envy.

A. What it did to Joseph.

1. It didn't kill him, but it did result in his being thrown in a pit.

2. It sold him into slavery.

3. The point is that the envy of his brothers manifested itself in doing harm to others.

4. The attitude of "serves you right" is a result of envy.

5. Now envy most often a problem between people who are closely connected.

a. A doctor isn't usually envious of a professional wrestler.

b. A musician doesn't normally become envious of a football player.

c. But we do envy those who are closely connected to us

. d. In our families, at work, and even in our church!

B. What it did to Jacob.

1. We read that Jacob was brokenhearted over losing his son.

2. He was devastated, and nothing his other son's could do would bring him comfort.

3. Perhaps they thought with Joseph out of the way that their father would then show them the attention they were so envious of with Joseph, but that didn't happen.

4. Envy is divisive…it will divide families, friends, and even churches.

C. What it did to the brothers.

1. Envy hardened their hearts.

2. It led them down the road of deception.

3. It disturbed their consciences for over twenty years.

(Gen 42:21) And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

4. A story is told of an athlete in Ancient Greece who was envious of another's statue.

5. He would secretly chip away at the foundation of the statue until one night the statue toppled and crushed him.

6. That is what envy will do to us…it will ultimately destroy us.

III. How to Prevent Envy.

A. By not playing favoritism.

1. Common sense tells us that this is wrong.

2. Jacob should have known this; he had been the favorite of his own mother.

3. The result was the deception of Isaac and the alienation of his brother Esau.

B. By avoiding covetousness.

1. The Latin word for envy is 'invidia' which means to stare into.

2. Joseph's brothers had spent too much time focusing upon his favorite status.

3. This led to his brother's coveting his position and relationship to their father.

(Luke 12:15) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

C. By accepting God's sovereignty over our lives.

1. Note: John 21:18-23

2. It is God who decides what happens in our lives.

3. He may choose one path for me, and a different path for you -- accept it and avoid becoming envious.

4. Note the example of John the Baptist. Cf John 3:25-30

D. By love.

1. One final thought on how to avoid envy.

2. Love one another. Simple isn't it?

3. But if we will love them, we will not envy them.

(1 Cor 13:4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (Rom 13:10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

A sure way to love a person is to pray for them. There is no reason for us to fall into this trap of the enemy. Let's learn this lesson from Joseph's life.