OCTOBER 7, Genesis 37:18-27

Joseph’s brothers saw him afar off and were not pleased to see him. They conspired to kill him. They did not want to see the day Joseph would rule over them as his dream foretold. So they plotted to kill him and to cast his body into a pit. They even schemed on what to say to their father! They planned to say that some wild beast had eaten him up and to show Jacob Joseph’s torn coat smeared with blood. What a clever plan!

Reuben, who was the oldest brother, was reluctant to see kill Joseph killed. He wanted to secretly rescue and restore Joseph to their aged father after the brothers’ anger had subsided. He managed to convince his brothers to just throw him into the pit and leave him to die of starvation. The brothers thought that by getting rid of Joseph, the prophecy of Joseph’s dream would be undone. What fools to think that God’s plans could be changed by man!

How about Joseph? Do you think he too thought that God’s plan to make him a ruler would be thrown out by his brothers’ act? Down in the pit, who do you think would be the first person Joseph turned to for help? Yes the Lord God. Anyhow, the only direction he could look for a way out was upwards. Most importantly, Joseph did not lose faith or hope. He believed in God.

Who do you think made Reuben stop his brothers from killing Joseph, and sent some Midianite merchants willing to buy Joseph from the brothers for twenty pieces of silver, and to bring him to Egypt as a slave?

Where were these Midianite merchants traveling to?

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How would you feel if you are sold to these merchants and brought as slave to a foreign land?

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Thought: In times of danger, call upon the Lord and trust in Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in times of danger, help me to turn to You and trust in You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.