“Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took him to Egypt.” Genesis 37:28. (NKJV).
“They sold their brother?” Timmy stiffened, eyes flashing. “How could they?” Grandfather shrugged.
“The brothers wanted a life free of Joseph, their father's favorite.”
“Were they right about their father?”
“The Bible tells us, Jacob, their father, did favor Joseph.”
Timmy's shoulders drooped. “Why would God let that happen? He could make them love their brother, right?”
“Timmy, the Bible shows us the good and the bad. Remember, we look at the story from down here on earth. God sees it all from above and His plan is for His glory and our good.”
“What good could come from selling your brother?” He slouched on the sofa.
“For one thing, the Lord taught Joseph to trust Him. It’s easy to trust God when everything’s going great but when things go bad? That's a different story. Also, the Lord was moving Jacob and his family to Egypt.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Seven years of famine was coming and God takes care of His people. Joseph, sold by his brothers, became the second in command in Egypt. He arranged for the storage of grain so everyone could have food.
“The famine came, his brothers heard food was available in Egypt so away they went. They didn’t recognize Joseph but Joseph recognized them.” Timmy leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.
“Did he give them food?”
“He did. Finally, he told them who he was--"
"Weren't they afraid he'd kill them after what they'd done?"
"'You meant it for my harm,' he told his brothers, 'but God meant it for good.' He then arranged for his father and all of the family to move to Egypt.”
“I'm glad they got food but seems like a hard way to learn to trust God,” Timmy said. "He did save his family, huh?" Grandfather chuckled.
“Indeed he did, son. The Lord knows exactly what we need to bring us to Him. He desires we come to know Him so we can share His love with others.”
“I'm glad they got food but seems like a hard way to learn to trust God,” Timmy said. "He did save his family, huh?" Grandfather chuckled.
“Indeed he did, son. The Lord knows exactly what we need to bring us to Him. He desires we come to know Him so we can share His love with others.”
"Amazing, isn't it, that the one they sold saved them?" Grandfather smiled, nodded.
Kingdom Thinking. The Lord Jesus promises to love me and never forsake me--no matter what’s going on in my life. Even when I don’t recognize Him. The Lord Jesus paid for my sins to give me life. Because of His great love for me, I can risk loving others. Would you like to know His love?
Kingdom Thinking. The Lord Jesus promises to love me and never forsake me--no matter what’s going on in my life. Even when I don’t recognize Him. The Lord Jesus paid for my sins to give me life. Because of His great love for me, I can risk loving others. Would you like to know His love?