Have you ever felt that your parents favored one child over the others? If so, have you ever wondered why they loved one child more than the other(s)?

In Genesis, Jacob (Israel), favored Joseph over all of his other sons. The Bible states that Jacob loved Joseph more because he had him in his old age. However, I kind of feel like he may have favored Joseph more because he was Rachel’s child. Jacob obviously loved Rachel – he worked fourteen years just to have her. He’d also been tricked into marrying Rachel’s homely sister, Leah.

Also, initially, Rachel was barren. I felt she desperately wanted to have a child, which was why she asked Leah for some mandrakes. Jacob probably thought his favored wife would never have children, so, when she surprisingly had Joseph, Jacob was probably joyous. Due to his deep love for Rachel, he favored Joseph over his brothers, causing deep animosity between the siblings.

So, have you ever felt that your parents favored one child over the other? If so, have you ever figured out why?