Genesis 37:4 And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Notice now what are the three things for which we are prone to envy others. 1. Their privileges. Joseph was envied because his father favoured him. Asaph was "envious at the foolish," when he "saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:3). Against this David warns us — "Fret not thyself because of evil doers" — "Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way" (Psalm 37:1-7). 2. Their prospects. Joseph was envied because of the destiny foreshadowed by his dreams. Walter Scott envied his school-fellow the prize he seemed certain to win. This again, how common I Many a boy stands aloof from his comrades, and joins little and without heart in their sports, because he has fixed his hopes — his ambition if you will — on some object to be gained. Now the others will not envy him in the sense of wishing to be as he is; but they resent his presuming to have objects higher than theirs. 3. Their piety. Joseph was envied because he held aloof from his brothers' sins. It is not so now? (E. Stock.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. |
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