Joseph In The Pit

Introduction

In his early life, Joseph received some emotional and psychological setbacks that would have stunned most anyone into total despair. Yet through it all Joseph never wavered in his focus on and faithfulness toward God. Like many of us, Joseph may not have always understood how he could possibly benefit from some of the things he was called upon to endure. However, understanding God's purpose and plan involved in our series of jolts and joys are often not realized while we are in the midst of them. We tend to get too caught up with what is happening to us at the moment to accurately discern what God is seeking to accomplish in us. But if we will stay submitted to and settled on God, He will often show us what He wants to achieve. It may have been an element of pride that had to be worked out of our life. Perhaps it was a self-sufficient attitude that God knew was blocking our total reliance on Him. Maybe God's purpose was simply to develop endurance and steadfastness in His weak and unstable child. One thing we can be absolutely sure of: God is a God of purpose, who never makes a mistake, and always has the welfare of His children in mind.

In all that Joseph endured, he focused on and followed the Lord. He seems to have possessed a settled faith toward God that led him to believe that whatever befell him was ultimately meant for his good. In so doing he left us a tremendous example to emulate. Let's take note today of the jolts that eventually led to joy in Joseph's life.

I. Joseph's Dreams Of Destiny

A. He Dreamed About Sheaves

We read in Genesis.37:5-8, "And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words."

The symbolism of Joseph's dream is clear. John Phillips explains.

The harvest field was a symbol of the world's resources, its bounty, prodigality, and wealth...It was a dream of the control that Joseph was to have over the resources of the world. The dream was fulfilled in Joseph's ultimate control over the resources of Egypt. (John Phillips, Exploring Genesis, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 296.)

B. He Dreamed About Stars

Then note in Genesis 37: 9-11, "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying."

Joseph's second dream, as did the first, included the symbolism of authority and leadership. From Gen.1: 16 we learn that the sun and moon are symbols of rule. Jacob's rebuke of Joseph shows that he clearly understood Joseph's reference to the sun, moon, and stars as referring to himself, his wife, and Joseph's other brothers, who normally, would have borne rule over him.

It is clear from this second dream that, "In a coming day Joseph was to be given command over the rulers of the world. That was literally fulfilled in the high position of authority Joseph attained in Egypt, an authority so great that even the pharaoh bowed to his will." (Ibid, pg. 296.)

Joseph did not have the benefit of a Dale Carnegie course on How To Win Friends And Influence People, so he may have unwisely shared this information with his brothers, who already envied and hated him because he was their father's favorite.

II. His Brothers' Dreadful Disdain

A. Disdain Because He Reported Their Evil Conduct To Jacob

Genesis 37: 2, "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report."

Joseph's brothers thought of him as the "family spy." "...He reacted strongly against their unethical and immoral behavior, and frankly reported on them..." (Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, Editors, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 38).

B. Disdain Because Of Their Jealousy

Genesis 37: 3, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him."

Joseph's brothers envied and hated him for a number of reasons, most of which stemmed from the fact that he was Jacob's obvious favorite. You will recall that all of Jacob's sons, with the exception of Joseph and Benjamin, were produced by Leah, Zilpah, her handmaid, or by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid. Jacob seems to have rather shamelessly showed little love for Leah, whom his father-in- law, Laban, had tricked him into marrying, under the assumption that he was receiving Rachel.

Zilpah and Bilhah were thrust upon Jacob merely out of the contention that existed between Leah and Rachel, who constantly competed for Jacob's attention. It seems that Jacob showed little concern for these servant women and their children. This is seen somewhat in Jacob's fear of Esau's revenge. As Esau and his band approached, Jacob made a special point to arrange his family in such a way that the maidservants and their children would face Esau first. Leah and her children were then placed next in line. Rachel and her son, Joseph, were placed at the tail end of the procession. This was done with the hope that if Esau resorted to violence, perhaps Rachel and Joseph might have time to escape. One can be assured that the sons of Leah and the maidservants were well aware of their father's favoritism toward Joseph. Their jealousy and resentment had been growing for years.

To make matters worse, Jacob had made a special tunic for Joseph. "The natural inference was that Jacob had chosen Joseph to be the one through whom the divine blessings would flow" (Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, Editors, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, by published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois, pg. 38).

Now, add to this background the fact that Joseph was obliged to tell his father about his brothers' misconduct, and one can readily see why they resented him. According to Gen.37: 4, they never had a kind word for Joseph.

C. Disdain Because Of His Supposed Superiority Jibes

Genesis 37:5,8 and 11a, "And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. -And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. - And his brethren envied him..."

The implication of Joseph's dreams seemed clear to his brothers: Joseph felt that he was destined to fill a place of authority over his father's house. The fact that these dreams were from God probably never entered their minds; nor would they have cared. The very thought of such a thing happening was intolerable to them. But Joseph's dreams, like many of ours, did not come about as he perhaps had imagined they would.

Three Trees

Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!"

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest. I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me," he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" the once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose.

The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

The next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you. Source Unknown.

III. His Brothers' Despicable Deed

A. Their Initial Plan

Genesis 37:18-20, "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams."

The whole scene here is a picture of what would happen many years in the future concerning Christ.

Like Joseph, Christ's Father sent Him unto His own (John 16: 28a; 20: 21b), but "his own received him not" (John 1: 11). However, Jesus, unlike Joseph, was not sent merely to learn of our welfare (Gen.37: 14), but that we might have life, and that, more abundantly (John 10: 10b).

Rejection is always a hurtful thing. It causes an emotional wound that is often long in healing.

In 1858 the Illinois legislature-using an obscure statute-sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, "Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh." (Max Lucado, God Came Near, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 57.)

B. Reuben's Intended Purpose

Genesis 37:21-24 "And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed not blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."

Reuben at least had enough decency about him that he wanted to spare Joseph's life, and eventually get him back to his father (v. 22).

Joseph, who previously dreamed of leadership and authority, must have suddenly felt like he was living a nightmare. Out of obedience to his father, he had come to check on the welfare of his brothers, only to be stripped of his beautiful clothing and made a prisoner.

How out of place these events seem to be in light of what God had previously revealed of His plan for Joseph. Why would God promise him a position of authority and power and then permit him to be thrown into a pit? The answer to that question is found in Prov.15: 33b and Prov.18: 12b, where we are told, "Before honor is humility." To put that another way, "The way up is down." In God's way of doing things, humiliation comes before elevation. The apostle Peter put it this way: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (II Pet.5: 6).

Did you hear about the minister who said he had a wonderful sermon on humility but was waiting for a large crowd before preaching it?

Many years ago, Christian professor Stuart Blackie of the University of Edinburgh was listening to his students as they presented oral readings. When one young man rose to begin his recitation, he held his book in the wrong hand. The professor thundered, "Take your book in your right hand, and be seated!" At this harsh rebuke, the student held up his right arm. He didn't have a right hand! The other students shifted uneasily in their chairs.

For a moment the professor hesitated. Then he made his way to the student, put his arm around him, and with tears streaming from his eyes, said, "I never knew about it. Please, will you forgive me?" His humble apology made a lasting impact on that young man.

This story was told some time later in a large gathering of believers. At the close of the meeting a man came forward, turned to the crowd, and raised his right arm. It ended at the wrist. He said, "I was that student. Professor Blackie led me to Christ. But he never could have done it if he had not made the wrong right." Source Unknown.

The fact is, in God's economy, preparation precedes position, and the pit always precedes the palace. Though it isn't usually to our liking, "We have to learn life's adversities before we can be trusted with life's advancements" (John Phillips, Exploring Genesis, published by Mood Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 310). The Christian who would have the power of God on his or her life can expect to spend some time in the pits of life.

C. The Ishmaelites' Purchase

Genesis 37:28, "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."

A type of Christ is once again seen in Joseph's life at this point. Like Joseph, Judas sold out Jesus for the price of a slave (Matt.26: 15).

One can only imagine how Joseph's heart, gripped by fear and a sense of rejection, must have broken as he began to realize what was about to happen. He could scarcely believe that his brothers would actually sell him into slavery. However, that was exactly what they were about to do, for Joseph could hear them bickering with the Midianites over his price. Finally, they agreed upon twenty pieces of silver. Joseph was then hauled up out of the pit, bound with a long cord and led away to the caravan. Even his cries of protest and pleading evoked no sympathy from his wicked brothers, for they seemed to enjoy every moment of his bewildered anguish.

Conclusion

Family Betrayal

No treachery is worse than betrayal by a family member or friend. Julius Caesar knew such treachery. Among the conspirators who assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 B. C. was Marcus Junius Brutus. Caesar not only trusted Brutus, he had favored him as a son.

According to Roman historians, Caesar first resisted the onslaught of the assassins. But when he saw Brutus among them with his dagger drawn, Caesar ceased to struggle and, pulling the top part of his robe over his face, asked the famous question, "You too, Brutus?" (Today in the Word, August 13, 1992)

One of the last sights that poor Joseph saw as he stumbled along the dusty road to Egypt, behind a camel, was the "good riddance" sneer on the faces of his conniving brothers. Had his family been right all along? Were his dreams merely the fanciful musings of a haughty young boy? Surely any hopes of their fulfillment must have faded into oblivion, as his brothers became only distant specks, and eventually vanished from view.

As Joseph walked what must have seemed like endless miles, he must have begun to feel forsaken and betrayed, not only by his brothers, but perhaps even by God Himself. "How could all of this be happening?" he must have asked himself. Little did he realize when he left home to find his brothers, that he would not see his father again for thirteen long years.

It all looked quite hopeless at this point. But whether in the pit, or on the pathway of difficulty, God never forsakes His children (Heb.13: 5b). In the midst of this dark and depressing situation, we see a little spark of hope that seems to glimmer from Gen.39: 2. As Joseph enters into a strange and foreign land, the Holy Spirit boldly proclaims from the pages of God's Word, "and the Lord was with Joseph."