You, Judah, shall your brothers praise…the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Genesis 49:8
Ah, the family dynamic! Imagine the mood of Judah’s brothers, being told by their father that they will bow down to Judah. These are the same men who, years earlier, took part in one of the most famous cases of sibling rivalry ever. Their brother, Joseph, had dreamt that they would bow to him. So filled with resentment at the idea were Joseph’s brothers, that they plotted to kill him. Instead, they only sold him into slavery. They must have been more receptive to being led by Judah. After all, they had recently reunited with Joseph, who was now able to save them from starvation because he was where God wanted him to be. Can we learn to let go of our resentments, humble ourselves and trust that divine providence is at work in us and in others? Maybe we can start by trusting that God resides in each of us, including all of our brothers and sisters.
Terence Hegarty
Originally published October 1st 2018
