Genesis 37:2
“This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.”
The story of the life of Joseph begins in Genesis 37 and covers roughly 12 chapters. Joseph’s father, Jacob, had several wives and Joseph was one of Jacob’s twelve sons. Despite becoming one of the heroes of our faith, Joseph’s life was far from perfect. At the age of 17, we see a self-righteous spirit in Joseph. More than just immaturity, Joseph had some cracks in his character, all rooted in pride.
Respond in Prayer
Take some time now to talk to God about this sin of pride and where it might be manifesting itself in your life. Pride shows up in all kinds of ways. The problem is, we are often blind to it in our own lives. As God reveals, confess it. Thank Him for His forgiveness and for the power of the Holy Spirit in you to continue to make you more like Christ. For further reading, check out this article on the seven subtle symptoms of pride.
For Families with Kids at Home
Where do you see self-righteousness or pride show up in your own family? How do you respond when it does? Today, if you see this show up in your kids, take the time to pause, show him/her grace, and then have a conversation about how pride can impact us and others around us.