Joseph was young, seventeen, and a favorite of his father.  He was filled with pride and boasted of his elevated status.  Not a good combination!  He was envied and hated by his brothers for a lot of reasons, one being he tattled on them to his father.  Another reason, his father loved him more than his other sons.

Jacob, his father, unwisely singled out his favorite among his twelve sons.  A beautiful coat was given to him and Joseph wore it everywhere!  (Genesis 37:2-4)

Joseph told his brothers a dream he had – his pride and boastfulness fueled the fires of hatred in his brothers.

(NASB) Genesis 37:5-8 “Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
6 He said to them, ‘Please listen to this dream which I have had;
7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.’
8 Then his brothers said to him, ‘Are you actually going to reign over us?  Or are you really going to rule over us?’  So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”

Joseph’s boastfulness and pride caused his brothers to envy him, to be jealous of him; causing strife and hatred… toward Joseph.

(NASB) Proverbs 16:18
“Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.”

Like Joseph, are you boastful of what the Lord reveals to you?  Are you fueling the fires of hatred?

The Lord did use Joseph in a mighty way in later years; however, there were many lessons which Joseph needed to learn.

Not only Joseph, but his brothers as well were taught God’s ways – and all of them learned them the hard way.

God is the Master Teacher and He will give us the wisdom we need – our part is to be teachable.

~ Take it to heart ~

Putting God’s words into action is learning and doing His will,
His way.
We are not to fuel the fires of hatred.

(NASB) Proverbs 10:14
“Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.”