Joseph--Part II, "From a Stroll to Captivity"

Things had not been good between Joseph and his brothers for some time, probably from birth when the father, Jacob, would have made much ado over him, being born of his old age and of his favorite wife.  Later Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors, signaling nobility, and still later Joseph shared two dreams which had his brothers in one, and then his whole family in the other, bowing down to him.

Such were relations that the brothers could not/would not bless Joseph with a greeting which also meant at their first opportunity they would do him harm.

Comes the day Jacob instructs Joseph to inquire into the well-being of his brethren who were supposed to be pasturing sheep in Shechem.  Jacob had reason to be concerned about them because of the murderous slaughter the brothers had formerly taken against the Shechemites, one of whom had raped their sister, Dinah, though he afterward proposed marriage.  The concern was that neighboring tribes might arise against the brothers to avenge the Shechemites.  But, no; the brothers weren’t at Shechem, rather at Dothan.

So off to Dothan Joseph went.  And when he was “afar off” the brothers saw him and thought, which had been in their hearts right along, to kill Joseph and throw his body into a pit (dry well).  But brother, Reuben, interceded saying, “Let’s throw him into the pit and leave him.”  With the idea he would come back later, rescue Joseph, and return him to their father.  For some reason Reuben was absent from the scene when some Ishmaelite traders (a caravan) came by and the rest of the brothers elected to sell Joseph for 20 shekels. 

The hand of God is all over this scene, though not seeming present at all.  Things happened that needed to happen and happen in such a way as to not totally compromise the brothers by committing murder. Three verses of Scripture are most apt.  “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you” (Psalm 76:10a); “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28); “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23a).

Meanwhile the brothers shred the coat of many colors and cover it with the blood of a young goat.  Leaving their father, Jacob, to draw a conclusion that this garment which they found belonged to Joseph and inasmuch as it was shred, Joseph’s body must have been similarly shred.  It’s interesting Jacob did not ask the sons any questions, but rather assumed a conclusion—which is exactly what they intended, torturing his soul.  Later they made a show of attempting to comfort their father, but he would not be comforted.

By the time the mourning scene is being played out, Joseph is well on his way to Egypt for his rendezvous with destiny.