Gen. 37:26-3026And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 30And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? (Genesis 37:26‑30)
“And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?” v. 26. It was not pity for Joseph that prompted Judah to suggest that he be spared. It was the arrival of a band of Ishmaelites bound for Egypt, that brought forth his shrewd plan to dispose of him at a profit and still put him out of their lives. “Come,” he said, “let us sell him to the Ishmaelites ... . Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.” vv. 27,28.
Is this not a vivid reminder of the treachery of Judas who long years after bargained with the Jewish rulers and for thirty pieces of silver sold the blessed One who desired to be their Friend and Saviour? The rejection of Joseph by his brethren is a sad foreshadowing of the Jewish nation’s rejecting and putting to death their true Messiah at Calvary. In neither case did the rejectors think their evil deed would be used by God to bring about their eventual salvation and blessing. How amazed Joseph’s brethren would have been had they been able to foresee the events that would follow approximately twenty years later! But there was to be no blessing to them until their consciences were reached and repentance took place.
Reuben, who had not been present when his brothers sold Joseph, was greatly distressed when he returned to the pit and found that Joseph was not there. “And he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not: and I, whither shall I go? vv. 29,30. Thus Reuben showed not only concern for his younger brother, but even more so his grief over the sorrow the tragic news would bring to their aged father, Jacob.
Surely this story should stir our hearts as we think of the love of God the Father who sent His dear Son into this world. How well He knew beforehand what wicked hearts and cruel hands would do to Him, but all the murderous hatred and jealousy of man and Satan could not frustrate those blest purposes of love; for “God is love.” (1 John 4:88He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8).) Again, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Could Jacob have foreseen the evil that would have befallen His loved Joseph, surely he would never have sent him on that mission to his brethren. Thus the picture falls far short of what it so beautifully portrays.
Yet let it not be thought that God has forgotten, nor will He ignore, what His beloved Son suffered at the hands of wicked men, when they nailed Him to a cross of shame. Awful judgment will finally fall on all who have rejected Him. Now, in amazing grace, He looks down in love and patience on this world— Jews and Gentiles alike—and offers a way of escape from the coming wrath, to all those who will own their sin and accept Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
ML 02/26/1967