Bitter Animosity Series

a. This is a way to GET RID of Joseph once and for all, and make FEW BUCKS in the process.

COMMENT:

Judah says, “Listen guys, instead of KILLING Joseph, let’s just SELL him as a life-long SLAVE to the Midianites. …After all, he is our little brother.” Can’t you just feel the LOVE?

b. “So, they LIFT Joseph from the PIT and SELL him as a SLAVE to the Midianites for 20 shekels of silver, who then take him down to EGYPT” – v. 28.

D. But then there was the matter of EXPLAINING to their Father what has happened to his FAVORITE

SON- vv. 31-35 (READ)

1. After EXAMINING the BLOODY ROBE, Jacob RECOGNIZED it immediately as being the

GIFT that he had given to Joseph.

COMMENT:

We can IMAGINE the PAIN and HEARTBREAK that this Father is going through. Although Joseph is ALIVE, his Father doesn’t KNOW that. He was led believe that his SON had been brutally KILLED by some WILD ANIMAL.

2. But look again at v. 35: “All his SONS and DAUGHTERS come to COMFORT him.”

COMMENT:

What HYPOCRISY? These SONS are pretending to COMFORT their FATHER as he deeply GREIVES the LOSS of Joseph, knowing good and well that it is all a LIE. Yet, not one of his SONS steps up and TELLS the TRUTH—not even Reuben.

II. ANIMOSITY SHOWN TOWARD US

A. Although we don’t have anyone who is PLOTTING to KILL US and THROW US into a PIT (at least, I hope not), I think it is ACCURATE to say that there are PEOPLE we KNOW who has SHOWN

ANIMOSITY toward us. (Maybe it’s someone you KNOW right now.)

1. There are many possible MOTIVES as to why one might hold ANIMOSITY toward us.

a. It could be the result of a WRONG that we COMMITTED.

COMMENT:

If so, it is our responsibility to try to RECONCILE with that person by CONFESSING our SIN and SEEKING his or her FORGIVENESS.

b. It could the result of a PERCEIVED wrong we COMMITTED.

COMMENT:

The person BELIEVES that we have SAID or DONE something AGAINST them, when actually we did not.

c. It could merely be a MISUNDERSTANDING.

COMMENT:

This happens when a person doesn’t COMPREHEND something correctly. An INNOCENT ACT or WORD or IMPLICATION creates an OFFENSE.

d. It could also be the result of a simple DISAGREEMENT—when there are TWO OPPOSING VIEWS on a given SUBJECT.

2. Whatever the REASON, someone has moved beyond mere ANGER (which is a God-given EMOTION that is not SINFUL within itself, but should be DEALT with QUICKLY) to BITTERNESS and ANIMOSITY, which often leads to RETALIATION in some FORM.

B. The apostle Paul tells us how we are to RESPOND to those who hold BITTER ANIMOSITY against

us- Romans 12:17-21 (READ).

1. “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody”- v. 17.

COMMENT:

In other words, we need to be living like Christ before others. We are to be KIND and CARING and LOVING, and TREATING people the way we want to be TREATED. And by doing so, hopefully, we will not be ANGERING someone or creating an OFFENSE of some kind.

2. “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”- v. 18.

COMMENT:

Now, it is true that even though we are VERY CAREFUL as to how we RELATE to others, there will be those who will be OFFENDED by us anyway. Jesus lived a PERFECT LIFE, and