The story of Joseph and Reuben unfolds against a backdrop of familial discord, its roots reaching back to a generation earlier. A web of deceit spun by Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law, poisoned the well of trust, leaving a bitter residue that would seep into the lives of his sons. The story of Joseph and his brothers is a stark reminder of how envy can poison even the closest of relationships.

In the story of Joseph, the seeds of this destructive emotion were sown by a potent combination of factors. Jacob’s blatant favouritism towards Joseph festered in everyone’s heart like an open wound. The special multicoloured robe, a constant reminder of his father’s affection, served as a daily provocation.

To his brothers, it symbolised undeserved privilege and a diminished future for themselves. This favouritism was further amplified by Joseph’s own dreams. These prophetic visions–where Joseph saw his brothers bowing down to him–felt like a blatant challenge to their status as the elder sons. Their birthright, their roles as leaders, were at stake, replaced by their younger brother’s prophesied success.

Joseph’s own behaviour, fuelled by his dreams and his father’s preferential treatment, added fuel to the fire. Envy, however, is often more complex than simple jealousy. It can breed bitterness, a sense of injustice at their brother’s perceived advantages contrasted with their own lot in life. Their insecurities were likely amplified by Joseph’s dreams, highlighting their own perceived shortcomings and raising doubts about their own worth. Ultimately, the brothers may have felt a sense of dispossession, a fear that Joseph’s future prominence threatened their own inheritance and place within the family.

By exploring the different layers of envy coursing through Joseph’s brothers, we gain a deeper understanding of the conflict that unfolds. It’s a reminder that even within families, complex emotions can simmer, leading to devastating consequences.

Reuben

Reuben, as the eldest son, was born to be a leader by virtue of his birthright. But his story is one of many missed opportunities. He wanted to do the right thing when he saw his brothers mistreating Joseph. He even came up with what could be interpreted as a plan to protect him – hiding Joseph temporarily in a pit.

But Reuben’s heart wasn’t fully in either plan. It was a battlefield where compassion for his younger brother clashed fiercely with the fear of his volatile siblings. He craved a solution that spared Joseph without inciting his brothers’ wrath, a seemingly impossible feat in the heat of the moment. Ultimately, he wasn’t brave enough to stand up to his brothers and by the time he returned to save Joseph, it was too late. His indecisiveness had a terrible cost, leaving Joseph at the mercy of a completely unknown fate.

Reuben wasn’t necessarily ‘a bad person’. He knew what was wrong, but he didn’t have the courage to act on it or stop it. He felt bad about what happened to Joseph, but he didn’t act on it until it was too late. This struggle between wanting to do the right thing and being afraid to take a stand makes Reuben a complex character. Even though Reuben recognised the cruelty of his brothers’ actions, his intervention was hesitant and ultimately ineffective. This suggests a moral compass that yearned for the right thing but lacked the conviction to see it through decisively.

Then Joseph had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told it to his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your brothers and I actually come and bow down to you on the ground?” This made his brothers jealous of him, and his father kept the matter in mind.

Genesis 37:5-11

Joseph

Joseph’s life turned into a roller coaster of fortune and misfortune. Blessed with prophetic dreams and his father Jacob’s doting affection, he became a target for the resentment festering within his brothers. These dreams, boasting of his future dominance, weren’t mere pronouncements; they were a constant reminder to his brothers of their perceived diminishing roles. The favouritism fuelled a firestorm of envy, ultimately leading to a heart-wrenching betrayal.

Sold into slavery due to Reuben’s indecisiveness, Joseph found himself thrust into a harsh reality. Despair threatened to engulf him and yet Joseph possessed an inner fire: a resilient spark within that refused to be extinguished. He channelled his intelligence, his talent for interpreting dreams and his capacity for leadership into navigating the treacherous waters of captivity. By putting his faith in God and trusting his abilities, he earned the respect of his master, Potiphar, eventually rising to manage the entire household.

Joseph’s journey wasn’t without setbacks. A false accusation landed him in prison. Yet, even within these confines, Joseph’s spirit remained unbroken. He continued to interpret dreams, gaining the favour of the prison warden. These acts of resilience, this refusal to surrender to his circumstances, ultimately paved the way for his release and his rise to the position of viceroy of Egypt.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect isn’t Joseph’s inherent morality, but his ability to adapt to a ruthless environment. He navigated a world of deceit and treachery, using the tools at his disposal – his intellect, his ability to interpret dreams and a calculated disregard for blind loyalty. In such a setting, could true virtue have survived?

Was Joseph a victim or a victor, a manipulator or a survivor? The answer likely lies somewhere in between. His tale serves as a reminder of the complexities of human nature and the enduring human will to not only survive, but to thrive, even in the face of brutality and betrayal.

God sent me ahead of you to appoint me ruler over all Egypt and to save your lives by a great deliverance. I was not sent here by men, but by God, who has made me Pharaoh’s father, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Genesis 45:7-8

Fate

Joseph’s brothers viewed his dreams as a direct challenge to their own birthright. Their logic followed a simple line: get rid of Joseph, eliminate the threat and secure their own dominance within the family. This fear-driven act of betrayal, ironically, became the very catalyst that propelled Joseph towards the fulfilment of his dreams.

The story, from this perspective, highlights the illusionary power of free will. Joseph’s brothers, blinded by jealousy, believed they could alter their destiny by getting rid of him. However, their actions, their very betrayal, became the necessary steps that propelled Joseph towards his preordained position. They were all simply players in a larger game orchestrated by a higher power.

The story explores the idea of destiny. Joseph’s prophetic dreams hinted at his future, but they didn’t force it to happen. Rather, the dreams came true of their own accord. His brothers thought they had changed the fate of their subservience by getting rid of him, but their actions only made the dreams come true. This shows that no matter what we do, fate sometimes has the upper hand.

Even seemingly insignificant events, like Potiphar’s wife’s actions, ultimately served to orchestrate Joseph’s rise to power. This interconnectedness suggests a preordained sequence of events, where every detail, every character, played a specific role in fulfilling the divine plan. Joseph’s life was beyond human control. He wasn’t the architect of his own destiny; he was simply fulfilling a role assigned to him by a higher power.