Joseph was loved the most by his father, but for this reason his many brothers all hated him (37:4). When Joseph had a dream implying that his brothers would all bow down to him, they hated him all the more (37:8). Once, Joseph was sent by his father to see about his brothers who were grazing the flocks—not to help them, but to check on them. When the brothers saw him coming, they decided to kill him. Their hatred for Joseph had become uncontrollable. They didn’t want Joseph the “dreamer” to rule over them, but they were ruled instead by hate.

God intervened through Reuben. Reuben did not want to kill Joseph, so they threw him into an empty cistern. Reuben thought he would rescue his brother later and return him to his father. But when a Midianite caravan passed by, Judah proposed that they sell Joseph as a slave and earn some money in the process. The brothers made up a lie that Joseph had been devoured by an animal. Their sin brought tremendous grief to their father. However, sin was not in control. God was working for his own sovereign purpose even in the darkest time.
Application: Lord, it seems like sin and hatred are ruling, but you are truly sovereign. Help me to trust you in dark times.
One Word: Trust in God’s rule