The Book of Genesis
Part 73
Without Natural Affection, Chapter 37:18-38
The Apostle John declares, “He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11).
The blindness of Joseph’s hateful brothers became more intense with the passing of time. For many years no light penetrated the darkness in which jealousy, hatred, and malice had enveloped them.
It is reasonable that we enquire into the great difference between Joseph and his half-brothers. Our enquiry will lead to the conclusion that we never actually dispose ourselves of the influences of those around us. The story is told of an accident in the Bureau of Standards in Washington, D. C. A tiny tube containing a very small amount of radium was dropped and broken on a hardwood floor. With a camel-hair brush the radium was swept up. The floor was then washed to get the rest, but enough remained to make another washing necessary. Other washings followed, each yielding hundreds of dollars worth of radium. Finally, a carpenter was called and instructed to scrape the floor. When the shavings were burned, the ashes were found to be strong with radium. Likewise, it is impossible to entirely remove human influence whether it be good or bad.
The life of Jacob, generally speaking, falls into two parts; the first part, before his experience at El Bethel (Gen. 35: 1-7); the secondpart, after that wonderful experience.
Before El Bethel
Joseph’s half-brothers were adults before he was born. They had been reared while Jacob was still in Mesopotamia, and without doubt had been greatly influenced by the life at Haran. They must have sensed the jealousy, seen the duplicity, and been involved in the scheming between their father Jacob and their uncle Laban. The behaviour and actions of both father and uncle would be reproduced in these young men. They would develop the tendencies to deceive for they must have participated under the circumstances in some of the plots of their father. Indubitably, Jacob saw in these sons an expansion of his own life previous to the experience at El Bethel.
After El Bethel
A definite change came over Jacob as he prepared to return to Bethel as well as during his period there. From that time onward, Jacob was a different man. There was a reverential fear of God in his attitude which seemed to cleanse him of the old aptitude to treachery. The veneer of pretense which formerly had charactrized him was removed. Divine discipline was yielding its fruits of righteousness. His return to Bethel meant a return to the Lord with the corresponding sanctification and submission. It was under these circumstances that the personality of young Joseph had been developed. The spiritual influence of improved home conditions is reflected in the life of Rachel’s son.