from Wikipedia. “The Golden Boy is a northward-facing statue perched on the dome of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Arguably the province’s best-known symbol, the statue was modeled after the Roman god Mercury and is meant to represent the prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit of Manitoba.” This statue comes with an interesting story concerning its fabrication and history.
In Biblical history we have the story of Joseph, notably his father’s favourite son. This is a favourite story, partly because in real life and true honesty it admits to parental partiality. I acknowledge that I don’t understand the whole meaning of the Joseph story. I would like to draw from it and apply it to real life.
The Golden Boy or Girl, or whole sets of these children, are not meant to be seen from a scornful viewpoint. It is, however, not uncommon to have one child in a family who receives preferential treatment. Perhaps this child even has qualities and gifts, personality or physical beauty, smarts and charisma that is hard to overlook and possibly difficult for others to appreciate.
The awareness of Jacob’s favoritism to his son resulted not only in jealousy and disdain for Joseph, but also in a very unkind reaction from his brothers. In my thoughts this morning I want to share a few points to consider.
The unfairness in how Jacob the father gifted Joseph was not ethically right. The reaction of the brothers was no more right. The grief they caused their father was quite likely the greater crime.
In addiction recovery we refer to “a moment of clarity”. It is referred to as a point where a person leaves aside the bias and consequential detail that has attributed to the problem. And for a moment this person considers the factual problem as it is. I envision that during Joseph’s sojourn in the pit, and the journey via camel train to a country where he undoubtedly feared the consequences of captivity, he had many “moments of clarity”. I suppose the coveted “coat of many colours” devalued greatly during that period of time.
Joseph is justifiably seen by followers and historians as a person of outstanding qualities. He may have been born “a favoured son” with a lovable disposition and remarkable natural gifts. We do, however, have reason to think that his “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” tempered the steel of his attributes. We serve a God “whose ways are past finding out.” Romans 11:33b. He is notable for designing circumstances to accomplish an outcome that He desires.
When a parent or a society becomes aware of a “Golden Boy”, a parent’s natural tendency is to react in a defensive manner. When we see this “Golden Boy” thrown in the pit by circumstances, parents are inclined to run for a piece of rope, while society stands beside the pit and gloats. Neither of these approaches are of much help to the process of reform God has in mind for the “child of favour”.
Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Because God loves us all even more than a mother; because He sees the end result; because He wants only good to come from any and all poor circumstances, He will use methods that appear inhumane and unreasonable.
Parents are inclined to become aware at some point that they have contributed to the development of a “Golden Child”. Parents too have “moments of clarity”. This often becomes evident in school, or at the child’s first job. If the parents decide to intervene, they have now missed the pitch again.
First strike: developing the Golden Child
Strike two: Resisting God and others, when they make an effort to help
One strike left…
Cheers and Courage.
