Jealousy is Cruel
Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him over a robe and the dreams he revealed to them. It might seem ridiculous to envy someone for those reasons, but it’s a lesson for us today. If we don’t deal with jealousy immediately, it will grow ugly. His brothers were blinded by it and their reasoning to get rid of the dreamer made sense to them. When left unchecked, jealousy leads to sin. We may not recognize envious feelings at first, but it starts with comparing ourselves with others. May God help us to recognize those feelings so they don’t take root in our hearts.
Read Genesis 37:23-28
1. What did Joseph’s brothers first do to him when he arrived?
2. Other than killing Joseph themselves, what alternate plan do they devise?
Read Matthew 26:14-15
3. What similarity do you see between Joseph and Jesus from this passage?
Read Genesis 37:29-30
4. How did Reuben respond when he returned to the pit to get Joseph?
Read Genesis 37:31-36
5. What did the brothers tell their father about Joseph, and how did Jacob respond?
6. Where did Joseph end up?
The brothers thought it would be easier to let the slave traders do their dirty work for them. Then they wouldn’t need to bear the guilt of his murder. Selling Joseph into slavery seemed like the lesser crime. Commentaries say that Joseph walked with chains on his feet for the 30 days it would take to go from Dothan to Egypt. He would have suffered much cruelty along the way and would have been sold like a piece of merchandise in Egypt. We can only imagine what a shock it was for Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob, to go from being a sheep herder to the sophistication of Egyptian culture and pyramids. As we continue his story, however, we will see how God was in control of every aspect of Joseph’s life. May that underlying truth encourage us in our own lives today…God is in control!
When Joseph arrived to where his brothers where – they took his coat of many colors which was on him – then the brothers took Joseph and threw him into a pit with no water – the pit was completely empty. Their plan changed when the Ishmaelite’s came down the road – they were going to Egypt to sell their items – the brothers decided to sell Joseph instead of killing him – then the brothers would not be responsible for killing him – just think the brothers sold Joseph – their brother – for 20 pieces of silver. The only difference between Joseph and Jesus was only 10 extra pieces of silver – Judas Iscariot still sold Jesus for only 30 pieces of silver and Joseph was sold for only 20 pieces of silver. When Reuben returned to get Joseph – He tore his clothes off of himself and Joseph was not in the pit at all. The brothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood and took it back to their father – telling their father a story – they did not know if this was Joseph’s coat and they knew very well it was the coat of many colors which Joseph wore. Their father knew for sure it was Joseph’s coat and he thought that a beast has eaten Joseph and his body was in pieces. Joseph was sold into Egypt unto Potiphar – One of Pharaoh’s officers and captain of the guard. I love the words that GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL – GOD is always in control of our lives also as long as we serve HIM with all of our hearts – people always doing bad things does not work out in their lives – I want GOD to always be in control of my life and I want others to see this in me – I want to live close to HIM as I possibly can. Thanks – Karen – another great lesson to help us stay away from evil things and thinking. GOD IS SO GOOD ALL THE TIME – I do not know why some people cannot see this.
It all started with jealousy, then hate, murderous thoughts, humiliation to Joseph by stripping him of his garment, throwing him into the pit (I am sure it was not an easy lowering into the pit), then greed for a profit, deception and lies. One sin led to another…as does in our own lives. And with Jesus all the jealousy, hate, stripping of garments, hurt, pain, greed for money, deception and lies was what He went through too…BUT God was in control…of every situation, place and person in both Joseph’s and Jesus’s lives. I am thankful for God’s control over all!! Even when we can’t see it…He’s there, He’s in control!
Karen, I was struck by the way the brothers wanted to get Joseph out of their lives, but let someone else do the dirty work. It was the same with Jesus. The Jewish leaders wanted Him dead, but seemed to think they would be innocent as long as the Romans did the dirty work even though it was in response to their demand. I didn’t word that very well, but when we try to manipulate things to get the result we want, we will be in dangerous territory. Best, as others have said, to realize God has everything under control and keep our manipulations out of it.