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Genesis 37:12-36, Joseph is Sold by His Brothers

Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today

They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’
— Genesis 37:19-20

NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, September 26, 2019

by R. Fergus Moir, Clergy Stuff


Let’s face it. Joseph was kind of insufferable. Knowingly or not, he bragged to his brothers about his dreams that one day they would all bow down to him. He gloried in his father’s obvious favoritism. He paraded around in that infernal coat his father had given him. Can you blame his brothers for hating him?

On the other hand, selling Joseph into slavery was hardly the appropriate response. But that’s not really the point of the story. God had big plans for Joseph, and part of God’s plan involved the kid learning some humility.

Nothing truly terrible on this scale has ever happened to me. Yet I’ve had my serious challenges. And some of them have been my own darn fault, a product of my big ego, impatience, or incorrect assumptions. With God’s help, I can learn from these self-created blow-ups and get back on the path God intends.

Gracious God, help me to always be teachable, that I might better serve you and my neighbor. Amen.


 
Earlier Event: September 25
Genesis 37:1-11, Jacob’s Son, Joseph
Later Event: September 27
Genesis 41:37-57, Joseph’s Rise to Power