154. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, we will be hated by people because of the name of the Lord.
8 May 2021
They hated him all the more. Genesis 37:5
Genesis 37
8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
"Joseph was hated by his brothers but seemed completely oblivious to their feelings until disaster struck and they turned on him.
In Genesis 37, we are painted a picture of Joseph being a downright bratty tattle taler.
However, there is more to this situation than meets the eye.
The first thing you need to know is that those particular brothers who were tattled on were NOT the sons of Jacob’s legal wives Leah and Rachel.
They were the sons of Jacob’s two concubines, Bilah and Zilpah.
No doubt this dynamic caused serious stress and strain in the family.
Having said that, it appears that Bilah and Zilpah underwent a change in their family status that can only be recognized by looking at the original Hebrew.
In the original Hebrew, Bilah and Zilpah are referred to as ISH’ISHAH.
This is a term that is only applied to a legal wife.
Also notice how Jacob referred to Bilah in verse 10?
“What is this dream you have had? Do you really expect me, your mother and your brothers to come and prostrate ourselves before you on the ground?”
Remember that Rachel was long dead before this incident.
Bilah was Rachel’s handmaiden and now Jacob is referring to her as “Joseph’s mother“.
This is further evidence that Bilah’s status (along with Zilpah) had been elevated to that of a full wife.
Now what’s up with that coat of many colors that Jacob gave to Joseph?
Again, it goes without saying that because Jacob had always favored Rachel, he also favored the two children she gave him: Joseph and Benjamin."
Hated. The Lord Jesus told his disciples of the things to come, they will be persecuted turning them over to prisons, bringing them before kings and governors on account of His name. (Luke 21:12)
Luke 21 NASB
17 And you will be hated by all people because of My name.
18 And yet not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
The life of Apostle Paul is a life of persecution. He was hated by the chief priests and Jewish leaders, they presented charges against him (Acts 25:2) which led to his imprisonment. He was hated having confronted agitators in the Galatian church who were preaching circumcision (Acts 5:11-12). He was stoned by some Jews, who dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead (Acts 14:19).
The first century Christians were scattered to different places because of persecution.
There are countries where being a Christian is a crime. There are Christians from other religious family background that are thrown out of the family home.
We, here in the Philippines, are fortunate that we can freely practice our Christian faith, although there are some localities where believers face persecution.
We may not experience being hated in the sense like the persecution some Christians go through, like their place of worship or their houses being burned.
Personally, I identify with these brethren who at times face death when told to deny the faith. If I may say, being a Christian without accompanying persecution is actually being subjected to subtle persecution, because it will lead to the tendency of complacency.
Persecuted Christians are an inspiration to us Christians in comfort zone, because they are a reminder for us not to take it easy. They take great risk just to get a Bible, while at times we are not able to find time to open the Bible.
We take for granted the privilege of being a Christian, the name that was given to the disciples and first used at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Antioch along with Phoenicia and Cyprus were the places where believers were scattered as a result of persecution (Acts 11:19), which included the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:59).
It could be that we do not experience being hated, but it is indeed persecution, subtle at that, being tempted not to open the Bible and forgetting to pray for persecuted Christians.
Let's pause and offer prayers for the persecuted Christians around the world and for the missionaries who put their lives at great risks in order to fulfill the Great Commission (March 28:19). In such way, we identify with them being hated by people because of the name of the Lord Jesus.
"Lord, though You let Joseph through severe adversity being separated from his family and was a slave in Egypt, You prospered him - "The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned" (Genesis 39:2, 4). Later, "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt"" (Genesis 41:39, 41). I pray, "May the favor of the Lord my God rest on me; establish the work of my hands — yes, establish the work of my hands" (Psalm 90:17), in Jesus' name. Amen."
Someday, my children's children will say, "Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, we will be hated by people because of the name of the Lord."
May you be blessed with God's Word.
Maraming salamat.
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