We are now coming to a fascinating part of the story of Jacob and his family. We have already seen the dynamics of this family chosen by God to become the nation of Israel. Last week we saw the outcome for Edom the descendants of Esau and their downfall. Now we are seeing the family issues among Jacob’s sons from his different wives. Joseph was a young man of 17, and the first thing we see here with him is he is a snitch. He brings a bad report back to Jacob about his half-brothers from the maid servants of Leah and Rachel. We don’t know what this report was, but we know that his relationship is strained with his brothers. Joseph brings some of this upon himself due to his lack of tact and maturity, but Jacob feeds this as well. Joseph was Jacobs’s favorite son out of all of them. This was his first born from Rachel, the only wife that he actually loved. Leah was forced upon him and the two maid servants were given to him by Leah and Rachel in their conflict and competition of who is more blessed because of the children they bore. As far as Jacob is concerned, he would have been happier and more content if he only had Rachel and Joseph and Benjamin. Knowing this in your heart is one thing, showing favoritism outwardly will bring trouble in the family. Making this coat of many colors and giving it to Joseph was a slap in the face of all of his other sons. This coat was a symbol of honor. Only special or privileged people wore something like this. Sending Joseph out to check on his brothers and bring back a report again escalated the sibling rivalry. Jacob was setting the stage for a major confrontation. Jealousy never yields good fruit.