The Pit Before the Palace Part 3 – It’s a Trap!!

Hey Neighbor, 

In our last lesson, we learned that Joseph grew up in a very dysfunctional family, and that his father, Jacob was not very attentive to his older sons, nor did he discipline them for their wrongdoings.

This is a poor parenting style that never profits the sons, nor the father. 

Here is more evidence from a previous CareBibleStudy Lesson, where we learned about another dysfunctional family and their father, ‘Pastor’ Eli, who also refused to chastise his two wicked sons – and the tragic consequences thereafter.

https://carenrcinesl.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/check-yourself-or-be-checked/

But For Today- As We begin Part 3 of our Lesson, we find that young Joseph has had yet another dream and unfortunately, he has decided to share the details with his green-eyed brothers.

This is not a Good Idea!! 

Well…This 2nd dream was the straw that broke the camel’s back…so at this point, Jacob’s sons are fed up with Joseph, his dreams, and of course, his coat!! 

Now Joseph’s Father, Jacob would from time to time, send Joseph out into the wilderness to check on his brothers, as they fed their flock.

If you recall from our Bible Trivia- ‘Jacob’s Sons,’ this was how Jacob acquired the bad report about his 4 sons – who Jacob had by his 2 concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah.

😰 Too Many Wives!! 

So of course, we are not surprised to learn that Joseph’s brothers were never excited about him showing up on the job-site. They knew that Joseph was going to return to their father, Jacob with a full and detailed report on all of their antics!!

Genesis 37-12

But here we find that Jacob has cause to, once again send Joseph out to check on the older boys, but unbeknownst to Jacob, today he would be sending his favorite son to the slaughter!! 

Now, as Joseph approaches Jacob’s bloodthirsty sons in Dothan with the flock, they are not at all surprised to see him coming. They are watching Joseph, from the distance, and poor Joseph is walking right into their trap!! 

• And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.  Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. (Genesis37:18-20)

Having conspired together against Joseph, the majority of the brothers had cast their vote, in the affirmative, to rid themselves of ‘the dreamer,’ but they were 1 vote shy. 

Who was the hold-out?

That would be Reuben, Jacob and Leah’s first son, who voted against killing his brother, saying let’s not kill him, but instead we will just throw him into a nearby pit.

Scripture tells us that Reuben was secretly planning to return to the pit, maybe after the brothers were headed home, with the intention to rescue Joseph and return his little brother back home, securely in his dad’s arms.

You see, as the oldest son, Reuben would be held responsible if anything had befallen his little brother, and Reuben had already made a stink of himself in Jacob’s household when he secretly ‘went into his dad’s concubine’ – he ‘polluted Jacob’s couch.’ 

To say this in more plain terms- Reuben secretly had intercourse with one of his dad’s wives- Bilhah, his step-mother. 

So, as you can imagine, Reuben could not afford to be found in-league with his brothers and their plot to shed Joseph’s blood. 

So now in full agreement, the boys have decided to toss Joseph into the pit- but first they stripped Joseph of his colorful coat!!

Then, believe it or not, they sat there callously, around the pit and very casually ate their lunch- as if they were at a church picnic!!

Wow!!

Can you believe that?? 

They seemed to be quite pleased with how they had so humiliated their brother. All the while, I’m sure that Joseph was in anguish and agony, cold, thirsty, and maybe even hungry, as he pleaded with his brothers for mercy.

But there was no mercy bestowed-or was there?? 

Now another one of Leah’s profit thirsty sons, Judah arbitrarily decided that it would be more advantageous if they sold the boy to the passing caravan of merchants, who were heading to Egypt. After all, How could Joseph’s dreams of becoming their master come to pass, if he had been sold into servitude. 

We’re not told why Judah introduces this alternative suggestion. Maybe Joseph’s repeated cries of distress had begun to tug at Judah’s guilty heart- or was it that God was providing a Ram in the Bush- sparing Joseph’s life?

I believe the latter!!

But here, scripture simply tells us that like his older brother Reuben, Judah does not want to shed his brothers blood. 

Now when Reuben returns to the pit- finding an empty hole with no Joseph in it- he is livid!! He is boiling over when the brothers confess that they have sold Joseph out of his hands of surety.

But why did Reuben expect to find honor amongst thieves??

Remember, these are the same guys who ran in to pillage the land, for profit after Simeon and Levi had killed Shechem and his household!! 

For some reason, Reuben had separted himself from his brothers- maybe he was preparing things for his later return to rescue Joseph. We are not told, but while he was away, Judah, and his two murderous brothers, Simeon and Levi, as well as the other remaining brothers took secret council and voted to sell Joseph.  They profited themselves 20 pieces of silver for the sell of Jacob’s beloved boy, Joseph. 

So now Jacob’s deceitful sons must again conspire to cover-up their devious deed!!

They have done a treacherous thing in Israel!! 

They have dishonored their brother, Joseph!!

They have dishonored their father, Jacob!! 

And Most of All…

They have dishonored The God of their father, Jacob!! But God saw this Evil thing that they had done in secret. And Although they had set a trap for Joseph and stripped him of his coat, they could not strip him of his Comforter.

God had indeed provided a ram, and Joseph’s life was preserved, but unbeknownst to Joseph’s brothers, it was they who remained in the lair.

They had set themselves up to live with the consequences of the lies and deceit from this 1 day for the next 15+ years of their lives…always fearing that their father would learn the truth of their treachery.

What a ‘PIT-I-FULL’ Life!!

Joseph’s God had pulled him up and out of the pit, but now Joseph’s brothers have fallen into the depths of the pit themselves!!

-Whoever digs a pit [for another man“s feet] shall fall into it himself…(Proverbs 26:27)

Neighbor, Have You Fallen into A Trap??

If so, today You too can cry out from the pit for Mercy and Deliverance!!

Your Father, God will hear Your cries of distress and He will Provide a Ram for Your Salvation!!  

That Ram’s name is Jesus Christ!! 

And today you can receive Jesus Christ as Your Own Personal Savior.

Good News!!

There’s no hard work involved…if You will simply believe that Jesus Christ is the Resurrected Son of God. And confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord!” and Ask him to be the Lord of Your Life….then instantly, Your heart will beat and circulate the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
And He will free your soul from the heavy burden of lies and deceit that have entrapped you for years and years!!

God Loves You and He is Listening…Cry out to Him today and receive Jesus Christ!!

Give Him Your Life Today and He will Reward You with Everlasting Life!!

*****************

Thanks For Stopping by Today!! 

Get Ready for Tomorrow’s Trivia Thursday!! 

You excited?? 

Also, next week we will complete Part 4 of the Pit Before the Palace where we will see how Joseph’s ‘Pit-I-full’ brother’s attempt to pull off their cover-up!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves You 💕and So Do I!!

-Tam

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