Read Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Jacob
continued to live in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived, 2and
this is the story of Jacob’s family.
Joseph, a
young man of seventeen, took care of the sheep and goats with his brothers, the
sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s concubines. He brought bad reports to
his father about what his brothers were doing.
3 Jacob
loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when
he was old. He made a long robe with full sleevest for him. 4When
his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them, they hated
their brother so much that they would not speak to him in a friendly manner.
12 One
day when Joseph’s brothers had gone to Shechem to take care of their father’s
flock, 13Jacob said to Joseph, “I want you to go to Shechem, where
your brothers are taking care of the flock.”
Joseph
answered, “I am ready.”
14 His
father said, “Go and see if your brothers are safe and if the flock is all
right; then come back and tell me.” So his father sent him on his way from the
Valley of Hebron.
Joseph
arrived at Shechem 15and was wandering about in the country when a
man saw him and asked him, “What are you looking for?”
16 “I
am looking for my brothers, who are taking care of their flock,” he answered.
“Can you tell me where they are?”
17 The
man said, “They have already left. I heard them say that they were going to
Dothan.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18 They
saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted against him
and decided to kill him. 19They said to one another, “Here comes
that dreamer. 20Come on now, let’s kill him and throw his body into
one of the dry wells. We can say that a wild animal killed him. Then we will
see what becomes of his dreams.”
21 Reuben
heard them and tried to save Joseph. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 22“Just
throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don’t hurt him.” He said this,
planning to save him from them and send him back to his father. 23When
Joseph came up to his brothers, they ripped off his long robe with full
sleeves.u
24Then they took him and threw him into the well, which was dry.
25 While
they were eating, they suddenly saw a group of Ishmaelites travelling from
Gilead to Egypt. Their camels were loaded with spices and resins. 26Judah
said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up
the murder? 27Let’s sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we won’t
have to hurt him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His
brothers agreed, 28and when some Midianite traders came by,
the brothersv pulled Joseph out of the well and sold him for twenty
pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
Think
Last week Jacob wrestled with
the Angel before he crossed the Jabok into the land of Canaan. This is the story of how eleven of Jacob's
sons sold Joseph into slavery - ultimately leading to Israel's enslavement in
Egypt. Is it pride and jealousy that leads to slavery?
Pray
Loving God - thank you for
your mercy - you can even work your will through brothers who sell each other
into slavery. But purify my heart - keep
me free from jealousy and pride and the desire to do harm to others.
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