Genesis 37  Joseph.. 17 years old.. younger than most of his brothers and hated by them because he was Israel's favorite.  They had every reason to be jealous of Joseph.  His father made it obvious that he favored this son of Rachel's.  The special coat made it hard to ignore. 

 Joseph didn't help himself in this either.  He told his brothers about the dreams he had.. how their sheaves from the field had bowed down to his sheave... and how the sun, moon, and 11 stars had bowed down to him. They hated him even more after that. (Yet, it is important that they know these things.. for it all would be fulfilled later, and they would remember!)

When Joseph was sent to find his brothers and to report on them to his father, things got ugly.  They wanted to kill him. They ended up selling him to the Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver. The Midianites ended up with Joseph and sold him to Potiphar in Egypt. 

17 years old.  Betrayed by his own brothers, bought by his own relatives, and sold as a slave to an Egyptian. 

Israel was shown the bloody coat. They didn't actually say that Joseph was dead, but they allowed their father to believe it. They didn't know the deep loss that Israel would experience.. how he couldn't be consoled... what kind of men were these?  How could these become God's choice to form a nation?  Oh, how patient our God is.. to use such as these for His eternal purposes! 

Only two of Joseph's brothers are named in this passage.. Reuben, the oldest.. who persuaded them not to kill Joseph but to throw him in a pit.  He had every intention of rescuing Joseph and was distraught when he found out they had sold him.  The other is Judah, who suggested that Joseph be sold to the caravan.  All were part of this horrible act towards their brother. Someday they would understand the depth of their sin.. and the grace of his forgiveness. 

Think of the fear and sorrow that Joseph felt as his own brothers handed him over.. sold him as a slave.  He would have every reason to never forgive them.. but we know that he did.  God would work in Joseph's life in amazing ways.  

Father, sometimes Your plans are not anything that we would choose.. yet, You are still doing something so great and wonderful.. and You will accomplish Your purposes through them.  Thank You for reminding me that You never left Joseph alone.  You were with him as You are with us. When we are betrayed, when we are hurt, or when we are hated by others.. You have not stopped being faithful.  You have not stopped healing and loving us.  You have not forgotten us or Your good, good plans for our lives.  You are a God who shows us grace and helps us to be able to show grace and forgiveness to others.  Be glorified in our lives today, Lord God, as we cast every care upon You, for You care for us.. even as You cared for Joseph! Amen.