A Prayer about Dysfunctional Families
“So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” Genesis 37:19
Author God,
Thank you for your Word
which gives us hope
that you can redeem
even the worst of our sins
against our families.
Time after time,
you supply true stories
of fallen people,
people you transformed,
people through whom
you accomplished your purposes.
In Genesis 37 we see Jacob,
one of the fathers of many nations,
showing favoritism to his son Joseph,
giving him a coveted coat of “many colors”.
Joseph doesn’t help matters
by sharing a dream with his brothers
about how he will one day rule over them.
His brothers seethe with resentment,
so much so that they decide to kill Joseph
and tell their father he was eaten by an animal.
Oh, Lord, have mercy on us.
Show us that but for your transforming grace
in Jesus Christ,
this would be our end.
We are like Jacob and Joseph and the brothers,
and yet, you have bought us with Christ’s blood,
rescued us from certain death
by your mercy.
Thank you, Lord,
for your goodness and grace.
In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.
Read Genesis 37.