JOSEPH: Overcoming Family Dysfunction

Overcoming Family Dysfunction Scripture : ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams. ”” Family Dysfunction In This Chapter ‭‭Genesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him . Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. ” Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.” ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭11‬ ‭“And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.” Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. ” ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams. ”” Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe , the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” ‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites , and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭31‬-‭33‬ ‭ESV ‬‬“ Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.”” Generational Dysfunction Before This Chapter 1. Abraham’s Generation Deception/Lying: Abraham twice claimed his wife, Sarah, was only his sister out of fear for his own life, putting Sarah in danger (Genesis 12:10–20; Genesis 20:1–18). Sexual Sin/Lack of Faith: Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, to produce an heir, an act outside of God's original plan for marriage, leading to significant strife (Genesis 16). 2. Isaac’s Generation Favoritism: Both Isaac and Rebekah practiced favoritism toward their sons, which laid the foundation for future division and conflict in the family. Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed his wild game, while Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28). 3. Jacob’s Generation Deception/Lying: Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac, who was old and blind, so that Jacob could steal the spiritual and material blessing intended for his older brother, Esau (Genesis 27). Sibling Rivalry/Malice: The deception led to intense hatred, causing Esau to vow to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee the land (Genesis 27:41). 4. Jacob (Israel)’s Sons’ Generation Violence and Malice: Simeon and Levi committed a treacherous act of murder against the entire male population of Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34). Jacob later condemned their anger and violence on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7). Sexual Sin/Violation of Authority: Reuben , Jacob’s firstborn, slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah . This gross violation of patriarchal authority and sexual purity resulted in him losing his preeminence and birthright (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:3–4). Favoritism, Hatred, and Violence: Jacob repeated the sin of his parents by practicing blatant favoritism, loving Joseph more than his other sons and giving him the famous "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3). The brothers' jealousy and hatred grew, leading them to plot to kill Joseph and ultimately selling him into slavery to passing traders (Genesis 37:4, 18–28). Deception/Lying: To conceal their crime, the brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat’s blood and lied to their father, causing him prolonged grief (Genesis 37:31–35). Deception and Sexual Sin (Judah): Judah, one of the brothers, had his own history of sexual sin when he mistakenly slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute after he had refused to give her his third son in marriage (Genesis 38). DYSFUNCTION: Misalignment With God’s Word We All Unknowingly Grow Up In A Level Of Dysfunction We Recognize It When It “Gets On Us” We Struggle To Recognize When It “Gets In Us” Part Of Discipleship Is The Transformation Of Our Dysfunction Overcoming Family Dysfunction: Live In The Word The Word Brings Spiritual Life - Matthew 4:3–4 (ESV) And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Manna - Exodus 16:19–21 (ESV) And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. The Word Reveals Dysfunction Within You - James 1:23–25 (ESV) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. Following Jesus, some of it will just fall off The Word will reveal a manageable load at a time that is still attacjed Daily reading is like the finest of sandpaper - it hurts less Being in a Bible preaching/teaching church will expose chunks Podcasts/Books will help to fine tune The Word Reveals Dysfunction Around You - Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Lies believed will influence behavior We are being lied to on a level that is shocking It is more effective now because of SM proximity Double Speak - The phrase "double speak" is a general term often associated with, and influenced by, George Orwell's famous dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984). In modern usage, "doublespeak" is an unofficial, umbrella term used to describe language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. It is commonly used as a way to make the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, or to avoid taking responsibility for actions. Pro-Choice - a forced choice to embrace the death of a child Inclusivity - the exclusion of Biblical principles, and the celebration of things disallowed Gender affirming care - Gender Rejection Affirmative Action - Opposition Action Undocumented Individuals Overcoming Family Dysfunction: Live In The Holy Spirit Four Types Of Followers: Positional, Cerebral, Emotional or Spiritual Positional - admission of Jesus’ Lordship Cerebral - arguing Jesus’ Lordship Emotional - feeling Jesus’ Lordship Spiritual - engaging Jesus’ Lordship The Holy Spirit will reveal, guide, and empower you. Spiritual Revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV) - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." Guidance and Truth: John 16:13 (NIV) - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." Teaching and Remembering: John 14:26 (NIV) - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Prayer Directed At The ISSUE (Intercession): Romans 8:26 (NIV) - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." Freedom/Transformation ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

You can listen to JOSEPH: Overcoming Family Dysfunction online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

JOSEPH: Overcoming Family Dysfunction is an episode from C3 Church Southwest WA by Steve Parrish.

The episode duration depends on the source podcast feed and may not always be available.

This episode was published on Feb 8, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from C3 Church Southwest WA when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.