Genesis 36-37

January 12

Genesis 36-37

Jacob’s son Joseph, his first son by Rachel, was a spoiled brat at seventeen. His father loved him more than all his brothers and was not afraid to show his favoritism. Joseph on the other hand was not wise enough to play it down. Because of his father’s favoritism, Joseph’s brothers hated him. Then Joseph had a dream. In the dream his brothers were bowing down to him. So Joseph told his brothers about the dream and they hated him even more. The he had another dream and in this dream his brothers were bowing down to him again. Again he told his brothers about his dream and if it was possible they hated him even more.

Joseph’s brothers finally had the opportunity to get rid of this bratty brother who their father loved so much. Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers. They saw him coming and plotted to kill him. You know their hat had to be pretty intense in order for them to plot to kill their own brother. Reuben saw the evil in their plan and talked them into throwing Joseph in to an empty cistern and let him die there instead of killing him. Reuben planned on coming back to rescue his brother, but before he could get back, the other brothers sold him to Ishmaelites headed for Egypt.

Judah came up with the idea. Instead of killing Joseph sell him as a slave for thirty pieces of silver. This is a sad story. Brother against brother. Jealousy, hatred, favoritism, family discord all leads to Joseph being sold as a slave. His brothers thought selling him off would relieve them of his dreams of ruling over them. Little did they know they were enabling his dreams to come true. God had a plan. The day Joseph was sold into slavery looked like the worst day of his live, but it led to the best.

Around 1500 years later another brother would be sold for thirty pieces of silver. But he would die at the hands of his brothers. Jesus was betrayed by Judas for thirty pieces of silver. Humanity could not stand his sinless life and killed an innocent man. What looked like the worst day in history, fulfilled God’s prophecies and led to Easter, our greatest day of hope. God had a plan.

If you are having a bad day, remember God can use even the worst of circumstances for good. Hang on and lean on God’s grace today. God has a plan.