“Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt” (Genesis 37:28 ESV).
Jacob’s sons were jealous of their brother, Joseph. He was the favored son of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel, who had died giving birth to Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons. Joseph had made things worse with his brothers by sharing his dreams of them someday bowing down to him.
One day Jacob sent 17 year-old Joseph to check on his older brothers who were out pasturing his flocks. When they saw Joseph coming towards them wearing the robe of many colors that their father had given him, they plotted to murder their brother. They stripped him of his clothes and threw him in a pit. When they saw a band of traders passing by, one of the older brothers, Judah, convinced them that it would be better to sell him into slavery rather than murder him. They agreed and sold their brother for 20 shekels of silver.
Joseph is a Christological type, which means his life foreshadows the coming Christ. Notice the similarities between Joseph and Jesus. He was rejected by his brethren. Betrayed. Stripped naked. Thrown into a pit (Jesus was put in a tomb). Sold for 20 pieces of silver (Jesus was betrayed for 30). Yet years later, when famine struck the entire land, Joseph would be their savior. For he was eventually raised up from the pit to the palace of Egypt, where he fed and forgave his starving brothers.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to us. He was betrayed and sold by his brethren, crucified and buried for our sins. Yet, He has risen and ascended to Your right hand, where He intercedes for us. We have believed in Him as our Savior and Redeemer. Now we are Your children by grace through faith. Thank You Lord! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.