Joel M Bradshaw

31Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.–Genesis 37

What Judah and his brothers did to their brother Joseph was horrible. What they did to their father Jacob was also horrible. We do remember Jacob deceiving his own father, though. We almost wonder if it would have been better for Jacob’s mental state if they told him the truth. Let’s look at the two options.

OPTION 1: Dad, you always loved Joseph more than us. You even bought him a special coat and had him in a position to bring reports to you about us. Then he had these dreams and you didn’t shut that nonsense down. We had to get rid of him, Dad. We just couldn’t take it anymore.

OPTION 2: Dad here’s his robe and it’s bloody and torn. We hate to say it, but maybe he’s dead. We can’t find him.

With option 1, Jacob would have had the peace that comes with answers. He also would have someone to blame for his problems. Although, he probably would have also blamed himself for placing Joseph in that position in the first place. With option 2, he would have only hurt and hopelessness. That is despair.

In his despair, Jacob takes in no comfort. He allows no challenges or redirection to his story. His story was that the life he knew was over and that would define him all the way to the afterlife. A little dramatic, but despair feeds on that drama. Despair needs the fatalistic self-talk in order to continue. It’s a fire that needs that oxygen. He had gone through what he told himself was the worst possible situation and he wallowed in the hopelessness.

My wife and I have had to bury three children, all babies. Our story at times felt horrible, but we always maintained hope. God was and is still God and was and is still good. He is still faithful and worthy of trusting. After the loss of our children, we directed our feelings of hopelessness through self-talk rather than wallowing in the feelings and sinking into despair. I also realize I’m writing this on Easter Saturday, possibly the most depressing day in Jesus’ disciples’ lives. They might have been despairing, too. Jesus was in the tomb on Saturday. Keep trusting God even when life seems at its most difficult, my friends.–JMB