We finished our first week of readings with the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (Genesis 37:1-11). The stories surrounding Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, and Jacob’s wives and children always provide an opening for discussing family dynamics, and how even our Biblical heroes were sinners like us. One only need to look at the favoritism shown throughout this family line to see that a.) they made poor parenting choices, and 2.) the sins of the father really are passed on down the line, as history continues to repeat itself. This reading also provided a segue to the Israelites stay in, and flight from, Egypt, setting up the story as to why they were there in the first place, before the first several readings for next week focus on Israel’s return to the Promised Land.