Growing up in the same environment, why Joseph walked with God, but his 10 older brothers were all wicked?

Answer 1

They were not evil

Joseph was the firstborn son of the favored wife Rachael. At times Leah had to buy Josephs affections from Rachael. The boys grew up with this there was definatly favortism in the family.

Joseph being given the coat of many colors was in essence Jacob acknowledging the Joseph would receive the birthright and the major blessing from His father which in the end he did. Judah's blessing was the only one that even came close to his.

The book of Jasher sheds some light on some of the other ways that Joseph was favored, such as the war that Levi and Simeon had started when they wiped out Shecem over the matter of their sister Dinah. Joseph was excluded from fighting because Jacob feared losing his son. The other boys fought heroic battles especially Judah and then after all this Joseph tells them they would all bow down to him. Its little wonder that they despised him.

Remember that Rueben even though the true firstborn and therefore the one that should recieve the birthright and the major blessing was the one that saved his life and kept the others from killing Joseph outright thinking we would go pull Joseph out of the pit when the others had calmed down.

The book of Jasher records how after selling Joseph that the felt remorse and actually went to Egypt to try and find him but failed because they didn't think to look in a powerful Lords palace for their brother.

Judah and Rueben also pledged themselves and their own children to Jacob concerning Benjimen. And all of the brothers felt deep remorse for what they had done to Joseph. Once again the book of Jasher records that when they went to Egypt to buy grain that they had all entered differant gates and were doing a systematic search of the city in a last attempt to find Joseph thus the accusation of spying.

They weren't evil they were human. Its part of what makes the bible ring true for us, The heros had faults which is very uncommon in ancient writings.

Answer 2

Josephs brothers were mistaken, stupid, jealous, but not unrepentantly wicked. If you read the account in Genesis, starting in Chapter 43 on you will find that Joseph tested and retested his Brothers to find that they felt a great sorrow over what they had done to Joseph years ago.
They had NO way of knowing that the Egyptian official that they spoke to was their brother, and yet they were publicly remorseful, and offered their own lives in place of their other half brother Benjamin who was Josephs full brother.
This is a good example for us, when we are truly repentant, then God will forgive us also, no matter how serious our sins seem. So please take the time to read Genesis 41 through Genesis 45 to the end if you wish. It is a wonderful Bible account in a very Good Book.
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Answer 3

Here's the deal, Joseph was not the youngest, his brother Benjamin was and they were both favored over the other's because they were the sons of Rachel and she was Jacob's favorite wife and the others were either sons of her sister Leah or of their two handmaidens Bilah and Zilpah ( see Genesis 28 for the reasons for this) The whole family situation was very soap opera like so it's really no wonder the difference between the siblings.

Answer 4

Joseph and Benjamen were born to their father in his old age. And their father favored them. Joseph was able to interpret dreams. He made the mistake of telling his brothers that he had a dream that they would one day bow to him. This angered his brothers so the sold him into slavery.They were not evil but rather doing what they were suppose to do because Joseph became a prince of Egypt.You see because of his ability to interpept dreams he was give his freedom by Potiphar, he then became second in comand to the Pharaoh and became a prince.
There was a drought. The land was without food and his brothers came to him to ask for mercy and for food therefore they bowed to him not knowing that he was the brother they had sold into slavery.

Answer 5

he was the youngest child and clearly treated differently from his brothers. Because of his special treatment, his older brothers were filled with jealousy, while the clueless joseph was not. Plus Joseph was taken away from his family, so the only thing he had was God.

so in other words, jacob's special treatment of joseph totally set of the other brothers. but it may be more complex than that.

Answer 6

You have walked the streets, and singin the same ole song, well its time you found new streets and sing a new song. Nothin wrong with the old but if you have worn out the streets and got tired of the ole song... its time to see some new streets and hum a new song. Peace to you. Hope you find what you are desperately are lookin for.Sincerely..Kitty( find those bright lights, never let those lights keep you from finding what you want)

Answer 7

I believe that you are talking about Joseph of Eygpt.

The youngest is often the favoured of the earthly father. And Joseph was definatly favoured. Because of that his older brothers got jelous and rebelled against his father and against Joseph.

It was because of Jealousy

Answer 8

I don't think they were totally wicked, just awfully jealous of Joseph, and not with good reason. They contemplated murder, but eventually settled for selling him into slavery. And they paid for that, but it worked out well for all in the end.

Answer 9

Remember God had a plan for Joseph--He used the other brothers to accomplish his goal or plan. Maybe this is why they were Jealous. God's determined purpose is accomplished in many ways

Answer 10

Because God was raising him up to fulfill his will for the seed of Abraham and the coming of the Holy One. That's the whole thrust of the Old Testament historical prose, that Jesus would come.