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"They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass. The word of the Lord tested him." Psalm 105:18-19

Text: Genesis 37:1-36

TRANSACTION COMPLETED

Everything seemed so “perfect”. The brothers would not be guilty of killing their own flesh and blood. There was the opportunity to make some extra money on the side. The Ishmaelite caravan just so happened to pass by. Everything seemed so smoothly planned! Things couldn’t have worked out better! Joseph would no longer be at home to irritate them!

“Then Midianite traders passed by;
so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted
him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites
for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.”
GENESIS 37:28

The transaction had taken place. The brothers did not get very much money for Joseph – just twenty pieces of silver. Each brother would only have 2 silver coins each! That was all Joseph was worth – as a slave! (The terms “Midianites” and “Ishmaelites” are used interchangeably in this text. The former term is used in reference to their city of domicile, that is ‘citizenship’. The latter is used to trace their ethnic roots. The Ishmaelites that had settled down in Midian were called Midianites). The Ishmaelites would take Joseph to be sold in Egypt. No one knew that everything had fallen into place. There was an intricate master-plan at work. Though all players did their part unwittingly, they nevertheless fitted into God’s divine plan! God had sent Joseph ahead to Egypt. He would play a most significant role in the years ahead! The Lord was seeing to the fulfillment of a dream he gave to Abraham (Cf. Genesis 15:13-21).

REUBEN’S GRIEF

The transaction had taken place in Reuben’s absence. His hope of rescuing his brother at a later time would never take place now! He was genuinely grieved that things had come to such a stage.

“Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph
was not in the pit;, and he tore his clothes.
And he returned to his brothers and said,
‘The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?'”
GENESIS 37:29-30

To Reuben’s credit, he showed genuine grief for his brother Joseph. Being the eldest in the family, he saw Joseph as but a “lad”. Surely, this young lad did not deserve to die as a slave. In his mind, Joseph was as good as dead, sold as a slave in Egypt!

In his grief, Reuben tore his clothes! He lamented long and loud at the “demise” of his brother Joseph! Just years earlier, Reuben had sinned terribly against his father Jacob. He had gone into Bilhah, his father’s concubine (Cf. Genesis 35:22). He had grown more mature over the years! He grieved over the decision the brothers had made to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites!