Family Sale

Genesis 37:12-36

It seems that maybe the tattling wasn't totally Joseph's fault. Israel send's his favorite to go check on his brothers and report back to him. So not only is Joseph dad's favorite, he has condescending dreams, he evaluates their shepherding- plus, he doesn't even have to go out in the fields and work with them- at least not on this day. No wonder they couldn't stand him.

However, that doesn't come close to excusing what these guys do to him in this section. Joseph goes looking for them under dad's orders and they see him coming. They conspire to kill him and tell their dad that an animal has gotten him.

Reuben saves Joseph's life by convincing the brothers to throw him into a well instead - he planned to save him later and take him back to his dad. They steal the famous colored robe that his dad made for him and threw him in.

A band of Ishmaelites wander by and they (without Reuben) decide to get something for their trouble and sell him as a slave. After all, he is our flesh and blood. I tend to think that the chance to gain some money had as much to do with the decision as the desire to not shed family blood. If you're wondering how much a half-naked, obnoxious sibling went for at that time the answer is 8 ounces of silver.

Is this a foreshadowing of Jesus' betrayal? Being sold out for silver by those who should be close to him? And a metaphoric resurrection to come when they find out later that he's not dead.

Reuben is angry when he finds out what they've done but they still cover their tracks. Dip the coat in blood and take it back to dad. He buys it- and Joseph ends up being sold to Potiphar.

Lessson for me: You can't mess up God's plans. The brothers tried to thwart Joseph's dreams by rubbing him out or selling him off- but the dreams come true. We can't get in the way of what God wants to happen. And this is good news- all the pressure's off. If we work and try to fit into His plans, we can't mess it up- His will is accomplished no matter what.