Working too closely with family members on a project has a history of resulting in a clash of personalities. As the youngest boy in his family, Joseph appears to care more about doing chores than his older brothers. Or like any city/government job, one person is forced to do all the work as everyone else takes an extended break. Whatever happened while tending sheep, Moses suggests that Joseph is a tattle tale, complaining to his father about the lack of effort from his brothers.
So Jacob dwelt in the land in which his father had been a stranger and sojourner, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of the descendants of Jacob and this is Jacob’s line. Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s [secondary] wives; and Joseph brought to his father a bad report of them, Genesis 37:1-2.
As the youngest child in my family, I understand what Joseph is trying to do. Joseph was still eager to please his father. Apparently, Joseph’s older brothers were going through a too cool stage or simply didn’t care any more about tending the flocks. Perhaps, Joseph should have probed his brothers with questions, inquiring more about why they feel the way they do. Nonetheless, Joseph ends up looking like a tattle tale while his brothers were merely going through the motions in life.
Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching. 40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]! 41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 There is need of only one or but [i]a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [[j]that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her, Luke 10:38-42.
A first century doctor records another sibling rivalry, this time between sisters. Martha is the older sister who seeks fulfillment through working hard and making sure her house is spotless for guests. The younger Mary is a relational person, longing to find out how everyone is doing. While the oldest plays the role of tattle tale in this story, Jesus rebukes Martha for missing the mark. If there is a side to every story, make sure that you take advantage of the conversations that you have daily.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 