“When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.” Genesis 37:1
Jacob may not have been the best of fathers. From what we are told, his favoritism towards Joseph created envy and jealousy among his other sons. But this was no excuse for what came next; calculated Murder! If God had not intervened, Joseph would have been no more.
Throughout the Bible, we are warned about the progressive nature of Sin. This is why Jesus associates Murder with Anger and why John says in his Letter, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.” We may never have “actually” murdered someone, but as far as God is concerned “we have” if we let Hate rule our hearts. May God give us eyes to see as He sees!