Sold

Joseph continues to work for his father.  However, there is no doubt that the combination of the bad reports he was passing back to his dad, the favour shown by Jacob and the dreams made for an uneasy working relationship between the brothers.

Read Genesis 37:12-36

Jacob sends Joseph to check in on his brothers who are supposed to be pasturing the flocks in Shechem and to check that all is well or peaceful with them and their flocks (v12-14a).  It seems that Jacob has cause to be concerned and perhaps here we see Joseph vindicated from verse 2 because when he gets there, the brothers have moved on, they are not where they are meant to be (v14b-17).

His brothers see him coming and plot to kill him, again, the truth of the situation is revealed as hearts are exposed (v18-20).  The response isn’t united though. It seems that primarily it is the sons of the concubines who are most vexed by Joseph.  Reuben, the eldest son to Leah attempts to protect his brother, to have him thrown in a pit for a while to teach him a lesson before returning him home. Note, that even Reuban cannot come out and directly challenge what they are doing as wrong (v21-22).

So, when Joseph arrives, they strip him and throw him into the cistern (v23-24). When they see a caravan of Ishmaelites passing, Judah proposes that they sell Joseph to them, better to make money than to have blood on their hands.  It seems this is another attempt to protect Joseph, though had he not picked up that this was Reuben’s intent too (v23-38)?

Reuben returns from wherever he has been to.  Perhaps there are clues from his brother’s behaviour in chapter 38/m  he is distressed to find his brother gone (v29-30).  They concoct a plan and a story.  They bring back the special robe, now dipped in goats blood and claim that Joseph must have been killed by wild animals.  Jacob is crushed and unconsolable (v31-35).  Meanwhile Joseph has been sold into slavery in Egypt (v36).

Digging a little deeper

There are echoes of these events throughout Scripture, David will be sent by his father to check up on his brothers when he meets Goliath, Jeremiah will find himself in a cistern, Daniel in a lion’s den. Joseph heads to Egypt and into slavery ahead of his brothers. Joseph is also going ahead of his people Israel into slavery.

The imagery of the farm labourers seeing the son coming to check on them and plotting to kill would not have been lost on Jesus and this imagery seems to be behind his story of wicked tenants. However, that story tells the history of Israel which Joseph prefigures. Jesus is the one who is hated by his brother Jews who choose to plot his death. He is cast low into the ground, he is handed over to foreigners having been sent by the Father who sought their peace and ours.

A look at ourselves

If we are tempted to judge others, we should first of all remember that Ephesians 2 places us first of all among his enemies and haters.  However, it was exactly through our desire to kill him that our salvation was brought about.  So too it would turn out for Joseph’s brothers.