Hated Followers, Useful in the Hands of a Hated Savior (Family Worship, Gen 37:1–11)

Why does this passage place so much emphasis upon the increasing hatred and envy of Joseph by his brothers? Pastor leads his family in today's "Hopewell @Home" passage. In these eleven verses, we find the hatred and rejection of one through whom the Lord was saving the very ones doing the hating. After Christ had come and won our salvation, the apostles and evangelists proclaimed the hated Savior as the climax of a long line of those whom He had used in similar ways. Now, we can rejoice over His saving us, expect that He and we will be hated by others, and follow Him with joy and gratitude in whatever hatred we receive.