Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
Introduction
Jealousy can be defined as the emotional feeling that entails anger, insecurity, fear coupled with anxiety over the expected loss of a valuable to someone else. Unlike envy, jealousy is felt over a valuable thing that one is in possession of and does not want to let go. Envy on the contrary is felt over valuables that one is not in possession of and wishes to have or wants to stop others from acquiring them. Both jealousy and envy amount into rivalry which is a battle or motivated strive also defined as the competition to win over a valuable. Sibling rivalry is thus a type of rivalry that is felt in the form of competition within a family and is restricted to brothers or sisters whether of the same blood or not. In the biblical context jealousy runs in many family set ups in the Old Testament and it has been described as a sin whose consequences may run from one generation to the next. The Old Testament with regard to the first two books of the law, Genesis and Exodus illustrates jealousy and sibling rivalry among various biblical families.All the cases implicated amount into a different sin that calls for Gods punishment or approval.God himself has been implicated in jealousy and the bible cites with reference to some of the cases of jealousy that God approved or did not send punishment.
The case of Cain and Abel
The Old Testament records the first case of sibling rivalry between Cain and his brother Abel (Gen 4, 4-9).Cain as the bible records was jealousy of the acceptance of his brothers offering before God and disobeyed Gods warning by taking his brothers life.Gen 4, 7 emphasizes that the sin committed by Cain was punishable and is very common among the human race that is been covered in the impunity of sins committed by their fore generations. The consequence of the sin implicated in Abels murder is a judgment that is bound to follow generations (Genesis 4)
The Case of Jacob and Esau
Gen 25 records the second form of sibling rivalry in the Old Testament between Esau and his brother Jacob. The two were sons of Isaac and Rebekah and the grand children of Abraham and Sarah. Esau who happened to be older than Jacob had been promised the last and only blessing from his father Isaac.Rebekah on hearing of the husbands intention disclosed the secret to the younger brother Jacob and helped him get the blessing before Esaus arrival. The bible however documents that Rebekah was aware that the lord himself had earlier indicated his liking that the young brother be served by his eldest brother and may be did what she did in accordance to Gods plan.Isaac may have been aware of the plan as well but was not pleased with his young sons conduct.
The rivalry implicated in this case was geared by parental preference for either of the sons. Esau was Isaacs best owing to his outstanding hunting that assured him of some game supply while the young brother who happened to be the mothers best was an idler that preferred staying at home. Esau wished to have Jacob pay back dearly for taking away what was initially meant for him and Jacob had to seek refuge by fleeing from him. God indeed did not punish Jacob for his deception but instead saved him from his brothers anger.This could have been because he was pleased that Jacob serves him irrespective of his conduct and fathers dislike. God may have wanted to have other generations learn from his power of choice and the need to be loyal to authority irrespective of who the leader is as Esau was to serve his own young brother ( Genesis 25)
The Case of Joseph and his Brothers
Gen 37 records yet again another form of sibling rivalry between the sons of Jacob who initially was a victim of the same. Jacob according to Gen 37 preferred his son Joseph over his brother Benjamin who was younger and thus stood to earn more affection. Jacob however is said to have linked his son Benjamin to the death of his beloved wife Rachel, a woman he had worked so hard to earn as a wife hence his dislike for him.Jacob thus planned to hand over one of his prestigious possessions; a robe that happened to be ornamented to Joseph.Josephs brothers were angered by their fathers preference and thus organized to have him killed but instead traded him in the neighboring land. His brothers jealousy is thought to have been elevated by his relentless efforts to please their father (Gen 37, 2)
The case of Rachel and Lear
Gen 30 records the story of Rachel and her sister Lear. Rachel the beautiful wife of Jacob according to Gen 30, 1 had never had kids with her husband unlike her sister Rachel. She all along envied her sister and asked for Gods explanation in her predicament. Lear as the bible records in the same chapter is said to have offered her maid to Jacob so he could have children with her.Rachel had also offered her own maid to her husband for the same. The two though married to one husband competed to bring forth children, an attempt that saw Lear give to her husband her own maid as well when she discovered that she could no longer bare kids. On the first conception Rachel rejoiced and thanked the lord for remembering her too (Genesis 30).
Gods Jealousy
Exodus 20 documents the Ten Commandments given to the people of Israel that Lord himself through Moses had brought out of captivity. He reminds them that he did bring them out of captivity and they should thus have no other gods or images to be adored other than him. He forbids them form using his name falsely and requires of them to strictly adhere to his commandments.God in this chapter vows to punish anyone who went astray and gave the worship he deserved to any other gods (Exodus 20)
Conclusion
Sibling rivalry has its roots in the biblical context and it is thus calling for parents to be on the lookout as this form of feeling can amount into sin as implicated in the case of Cain and his brother Abel. It is worthy for one to receive credit for any good effort done, the bible teaches that reward should be taken positively as a motivation for every body to strive and attain whatever is expected of him in the best ability that has been bestowed to us by God. God himself is jealous and demands that the human race which he watches over does not fall to the worship of any other gods.
Works Cited
The English Bible, King James Version.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.