Jacob's Dysfunctional Family

November 20

Jacob had a dysfunctional family. His children were the offspring of two mothers, one of whom was loved and the other who was not. The children of these women grew up with the shadow of their father’s inequity toward their mothers hanging over them. Many children today are under that same shadow.

The consequence of Jacob’s favoritism toward the child of his preferred wife had devastating ramifications. His older children hated their younger sibling because their father loved him best –and he made no secret of his preference. Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers; their father was told that he was dead, so Jacob spent years without knowing his son was alive and thriving!

Jacob suffered deep anguish at the apparent loss of Joseph. He must have reflected many times upon the role he had played and the punishment that seemed to have been meted out against him by God for his unfairness to his older sons. But imagine His joy when he discovered that Joseph had not died! That he was alive and well and ruling Egypt! Imagine his recognition of the goodness of God when he realized that Joseph had forgiven all!

In Hebrews 11:21, we are given a snippet of the work of healing that the Lord did in Jacob’s dysfunctional family. Here, “By faith Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and he worshiped.” The son he had loved and lost was restored to him. He saw his grandchildren. He was given the privilege of seeing his entire family reconciled. We who have also made mistakes in child rearing, have the same God in Whom to hope for family healing.