THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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At "family time" one night, Mom and Dad gathered their six boys around the table to look at family pictures. They had fun remembering and laughing. Then there was a picture of the five oldest brothers together.
The three-year-old let out a "HEY!" and then said, "Those guys are wearing MY clothes!"
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Gen 37:29-36
29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.
KJV
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When Reuben came back to rescue Joseph, and found him gone, he was genuinely concerned. He'd already angered his father by sleeping with one of Jacob's wives. He is also the OLDEST son, and is probably the one held responsible for the others. So they plotted to deceive old Jacob. Notice that Jacob was deceived the same way he deceived his father. (see Gal. 6:7)
Usually, we are treated with the same respect we show others.
Jacob mourned heavily. When the family tried to comfort him, he vowed he would go to his grave mourning for Joseph. This kind of grief depicts an unstable faith! (vs 35)
He who wallows in grief knows no joy!
When we lose someone we love, let us grieve; then, let us praise God for the time we have had with them, and get on with life. (See 1Thess. 4:16-18)
Now we see that Joseph is sold to the captain of Pharoah's special guard. God has a very special purpose for Joseph. And these are all steps in God's plan to bring this young man to be a mature adult.
Yes, sometimes bad things do happen to good people. Ill-fated works do come
to the children of God. But, praise His Name, He is always, "working all things together for good to them that love Him.." (Rom. 8:28).
Love ya,
Bruce