You would think Jacob would have known better. He had seen how favoritism could tear apart a family. All he had to do was look back at his own upbringing in a home where his father favored his brother, Esau, and his mother favored him.

And yet, the only thing Jacob seemed to learn from that was how to play favorites. He played favorites with his wife, Rachel, and his son, Joseph. It is no surprise to see the results were the same: a divided family.

As we consider a father’s (Jacob) unequal love for his children, we should be drawn to delight in the Father’s (God) equal and steadfast love for His children. God does not play favorites within His family. All who have trusted in Christ are invited to approach God as our loving Father. As we do, we should be drawn toward one another as well. We are to seek to love all of our brothers and sisters in Christ as God does, with the love He gives us. 

• How might you show the sin of favoritism toward some of God’s family at times, either in your heart or through your actions?