The world may be able to slander God’s Word, but it will never be able to slay God’s Word.

Genesis 37:23-25
23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.

Those God intends to use are enrolled in the school of brokenness. Without the curriculum of crushing, there would be no anointing.

Genesis 37:26-27
26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.

We cannot wash our hands of His blood unless it’s His blood that washes our hands.

Genesis 37:28
28 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.

Christ became condemned so that we could become redeemed.

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

Genesis 37:31-32
31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”

Sin left unchecked progresses to death.

Genesis 37:33
33 And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.”

We often think God thinks like we think. But we need to know God knows more than we know.

Genesis 37:34-35
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

Grief is a reminder that life is brief. Grief is a longing for God’s grace.

Genesis 37:36
36 Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

No matter how roughly life has handled you, never forget whose Hands ultimately hold you.

Discussion Questions

1. How does Genesis 15:13-14 connect us to the narrative of Joseph? What was God ultimately doing by allowing Joseph (and eventually all of Israel) to be afflicted in Egypt? How does God use affliction in our lives? (See Psalm 119:50, 67, 71, 75)

2. In Genesis 37:26-27, what was Judah’s reasoning for not shedding Joseph’s blood? Do you think this “mercy” made them feel better about what they were doing?

3. How do these verses and the selling of Joseph for silver parallel and point to Jesus? (See Matthew 26:14-16/ Matthew 27 / Zechariah 11:12-13)

4. What is it about the brother’s deception of Jacob and using goat blood that is ironic? (See Genesis 27:11-17) How does Jacob’s perception of what happened to Joseph frame his reality?

5. Even though what Jacob believes is rooted in being deceived, discuss the power of grief. What does Jesus know about grief? (See Isaiah 53:3-12)

6. Talk about these statements: We often think God thinks like we think. But we need to know God knows more than we know. Why do we need to trust that God knows more than we know? (Isaiah 55:8-11)