Joseph Sold by His Brothers

Story: Joseph Sold by His Brothers

Passage: Genesis 37:12-36

Characters: Joseph, Joseph’s brothers, Reuben, Jacob

Summary: Joseph”s brothers were with the flocks near Shechem. Israel sent him to check on them. They were at Dothan. They saw Joseph coming and plotted to kill him and prove his dreams false. Reuben convinced them to just throw him in a pit so he could rescue him later. The brothers then sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Reuben tore his clothes when he found out. They tore his robe and dipped it in goat blood and took it to Jacob. Jacob mourned for a long time and refused to be comforted. Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captian of the guard in Egypt.

Notes: First of all, why were they near Shechem again? That city did not get along with them. Second, it is obvious that Joseph’s dreams had a major effect on his brothers. They call him a dreamer and the whole point of killing him is to prove his dreams false. This puts the dreams to the perfect test. If they were from God they would not fail, if not, they would. Reuben shows leadership and spares Joseph’s life. However, in an attempt to not get his murderous brothers mad at him, he suggests they throw Joseph into a pit so he could secretly rescue him later. We see Reuben’s main objective was to restore Joseph to his father. Reuben is the one who slept with his father’s concubine. I suspect he was trying to earn some favor back with his father. As the first born, he wanted to get the inheritance. I don’t know for sure that was his motivation, but I suspect it played a role. Either way, he didn’t suggest not harming Joseph. Apparently he then left Joseph alone with his brothers. Smart move Reuben! I can’t believe they had just left their own brother for dead, and then they sat down to eat! This is appalling to me! How could they care so little. I find a parallel between his brothers stripping him of his coat, the sign of favor, and Satan trying to strip us of our sign of favor with God. This struggle for favor goes on in everyone’s hearts today. Judah had a bright idea! They should sell their brother instead of kill him! That way they’re not guilty of bloodshed and they make a bit of money in the process! And to think, Christ came from the line of this man! The brothers then bloodied Joseph’s coat and presented it to Jacob. This was a very insensitive way to present this news to their father. I suspect the sons felt some resentment towards Jacob as well. This was a messed up family! And yet, they were God’s chosen family. Joseph was not dead, but as long as Jacob thought he was, he was as good as dead. In the same way, if Satan can convince us we are still spiritually dead, we will believe it and will act as if we were. It is important to constantly be in scripture to remind ourselves that Christ has made us alive in Him! This looks like a terrible situation for Joseph, but it was part of God’s plan all along and God will never leave his side.
Questions: What were Reuben’s motives for trying to save Joseph? How did the brothers like Jacob’s reaction and inability to be comforted? Why did God choose Judah to carry on the line of redemption through history? What made him worth it?

Lessons: God is with us, even when it feels like there is no possible way He could be. None of us are worth being chosen by God as His children. But neither was Israel. From Jacob on, they were a rebellious messed up family and later nation. We can learn from God’s love and the way he treated them and we can hold to that grace He extends towards us as well. It is also important to not let us be convinced of a lie and crippled by it. Jacob fell for the trick and was no longer an effective leader for his family (if he ever was). Satan wants nothing more than to make us ineffective for Christ. Don’t fall for his lies, look to Christ’s truth!