Provide a 2 pages analysis while answering the following question: Using material from genesis (NIV bible) after chapter 20, find 3 different separate examples of dysfunctional family relationships an

Provide a 2 pages analysis while answering the following question: Using material from genesis (NIV bible) after chapter 20, find 3 different separate examples of dysfunctional family relationships and explain using Bradshaw. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is required. Dysfunctional families seem to go back to the very first family on Earth. Dysfunction seems to be the norm. However, not all families are dysfunctional. But, more and more families are dysfunctional than not. Thus, divorces, sadly, are steadily on the rise which causes a child to become broken hearted. And these broken hearted children, eventually, will continue that same cycle of hurt and pain. Furthermore, the Bible has many stories of pain and misery in the family. Genesis, the first book of the bible, has plenty of those stories of dysfunctional families. This paper is going to look at three such stories from Genesis of the Bible, NIV translation and comparing it to ‘Bradshaw on: The Family’

Jacob and Esau

As Isaac was dying, Esau was told to bring him a tasty meal after hunting it down and killing it, so that he could receive his father’s blessing. But, Rebekah, who was listening in on the conversation, told her son, Jacob to bring her two of the finest goats from the field and that she would prepare the food for Isaac. Jacob did as he was told. He, then, wondered how he was going to receive Isaac’s blessing. Rebekah said not to worry, even though Jacob worried since Esau was hairier than he. But, Rebekah had a plan. she dressed up Jabob in Easu’s clothing with goatskins underneath to make him seem hairy. Jacob brought Isaac his meal. In the end, Jacob was given Isaac’s blessing after making Isaac think that he was Esau. This treachery by Jacob shows that his family was an incorporation of their upbringing, where the father’s blessing always went to the oldest son (Genesis 27:2-29, Bradshaw pg 40).

Joseph and his Brothers

Joseph had dreams given to him by God. In these dreams he saw himself ruling over his very own family. This made his brothers jealous. His brothers came up with ways to get rid of him. The majority of them decided to kill Joseph and bring back his multicolored coat back to their father, Jacob, and show that wild animals had killed their brother. But one of Joseph’s brothers, Rueben, told them to not kill him. They threw Joseph into the cistern alive.

However, while eating their meals the brothers saw a caravan of Ishmaelites headed to Egypt. So Judah advised that they sold him into slavery instead of laying their hands on him with his blood. They gained money for selling their brother into slavery. According to Bradshaw, the jealousy of Joseph’s brother’s is a behaviorally induced trance due to Joseph being their younger brother, there is no way he should rule over them, by order of birthright. (Genesis 37, Bradshaw 40)

Joseph and Potiphar’s wife

Joseph became the slave of the Egyptian captain of the guard, Pontiphar. Eventually with God looking down upon him, Joseph ran Pontphar’s household. Nothing was held back from Joseph except for Pontiphar’s wife. Pontiphar’s wife had taken notice of Joseph and tried to bed him. He reused many times. Then, one day Joseph came to the house to attend to his duties and none of the other servants happened to be there. The wife tried bedding Joseph. He refused. She tore at his cloak as he ran off. The wife later lied to her husband, Pontiphar telling him that Joseph tried to force himself upon her. Promptly, Pontiphar had Joseph thrown in jail. This shows from an understanding of Bradshaw that Pontiphar’s wife had abused her initial relationship with Joseph and abandoned him when he didn’t give her what she wanted. Thus, Joseph fled out of shame. (Genesis 39, Bradshaw 3)

Conclusion

Dysfunctional families are all too rampant throughout time. And some of these dysfunctional families gave rise to some of the worlds most feared leaders. But it also shows that since the beginning of human history there has always been dysfunctional families of some sort.

Works Cited

Bradshaw on: The Family.

Holy Bible. New International Version.