Genesis 37:31-35 New International Version (NIV)
31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
Jacob’s sons lied to cover up what they had done. Jacob had deceived others before, and he had even deceived his own father. Even though he did not know it at the time, Jacob was learning through difficult experiences and painful times lessons about how destructive lying can be. When you are going through very difficult times, look for life lessons that you may need to learn.
