Sunday Devotional for Kids - Joseph's Coat of Many Colors

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Joseph had a dream and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more." Genesis 37:1-5

"When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind." Genesis 37:10-11

The story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors is a well known Bible story among children. His father Jacob, loving him more than any other son, gave him a beautiful coat. It was just a coat wasn't it? Why did his brothers hate him so much for getting a nice coat? Did it really make that much of a difference?

Yes, it was a very big deal to Joseph and his brothers not because of a nice coat but what it represented. This gift was Jacob's (Israel's) way of showing that Joseph was to succeed him as the leader of the family. Traditionally it would have been the first born son, in this case Reuben, who would be expected to receive the birthright and all the possessions and responsibilities that went with it. Not only did Jacob pass over Reuben to receive the birthright but he also passed over Joseph's nine other brothers. No wonder they hated Joseph.

They really shouldn't have put so much on Joseph should they? After all, it wasn't his choice to receive the birthright. No it wasn't his choice but Joseph did do a little bragging that didn't help matters much. After he received the Coat of Many Colors he realized the position he was now chosen for. He also had the gift of dreams (Genesis 37:5-9) that further predicted his position over the rest of his family. The problem, the thing that really pushed his brothers buttons was that he bragged about it. His own father rebuked him for his arrogance(Genesis 37:10). God may have chosen Joseph to receive the gift of dreams and to be the leader of the family but he definitely didn't want him to brag about these gifts!

Have you ever been like Joseph? Have you ever bragged about a special gift you have? Singing, sports, drawing? Or have you ever thought yourself better than someone else because of something you have? A new Ipod, nice clothes or a new toy? Does having these things really make you better than someone else?

Today rather than thinking about what you can do or what you have concentrate on others and their gifts. How boring would life be if we were all the same? God has blessed our loves with a variety of different people with different gifts and abilities. Rather than feeling envy or jealousy for someone else let's try to be happy for their gifts and enjoy them together.

Dear God, Thank you for all the gifts and blessings you have given to everyone. Help me to remember the differences in people make a truly wonderful world to live in. Amen.