Read: Genesis 37:12-34
THE BANK ROBBERY GONE BAD
Reflect: I read the story of Joseph. He is thrown into a cistern by his brothers, only to be sold into slavery the next day. This reminds me of an old skit about two bank robbers who just aren’t prepared. The two arrive at the bank ready to do their criminal activity at exactly 8:00AM. They see the sign on the front door: “Open at 9:00AM.” Not to be discouraged they wait till 9 and then boldly enter the bank. Their plan was off to a bad start.
The first guy says to the second guy, “Grab the bag and go around and collect the loot.”
The second guy says, “I thought you brought the bag,” The two numbskulls gather a few dollars, and make their escape from the bank. However, a local cop is standing next to the get-away car. The policeman looks up at the two robbers and says, “Are you the guys who own this car? You’re parked in a towing zone.” The two thieves were totally unprepared! Their plans were disastrous.
DOING THINGS IN A HURRY WHICH WE WILL REGRET
That’s how it is when we act out of anger or jealousy. We do things in a hurry which we later regret. When the brothers see Joseph approaching, they let their anger take over. They quickly hatch a plot against Joseph, their own brother, their own flesh and blood. “Here comes that dreamer,” they said to each other. Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns, and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams” (Genesis 37:19).
THE ILL-FATED PLANS OF THE JEALOUS
The reason they call him “that dreamer” is because days before, Joseph had some dreams which did not put them in a good light. The brothers became jealous, and of course, Joseph being dad’s favorite didn’t help either! And so, they plot to kill Joseph and throw his body into a cistern. They manage the first part, but Reuben pleads with them not to kill Joseph. Reuben has his own plan to rescue Jospeh and later return him back to their father. However, Reuben’s plan is thwarted when a caravan of Ishmaelites, traveling to Egypt, are willing to take Joseph with them for 20 shekels of silver. So much for the plans of the jealous!
SINFUL ANGER CONSUMES
There are many lessons we can learn from this passage, but one of the main truths is this: Sinful anger must be dealt with, before it can consume you. John Broger in his book “Self-Confrontation: A Manual for In-depth Discipleship” says this: “Scripture teaches that the anger of man cannot achieve the righteousness of God. Your anger, whether explosive in expression or settled as a disposition, is to be decisively put off if you are to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.” So, the next time your jealousy threatens to get the best of you, don’t get angry and do something you will regret.
Talk to the Lord to see what He says. You can choose God’s better plan.