What role does God's sovereignty play in Joseph's sale to the Ishmaelites? Setting the Scene “Then Midianite traders passed by. So they pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites who took Joseph to Egypt.” (Genesis 37:28) Seeing the Hand Behind the Circumstances • Joseph’s brothers think they are erasing his dreams; yet the very act of selling him becomes the first step toward those dreams’ fulfillment (Genesis 37:5-11). • God’s promise to Abraham—“In you all families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3)—requires preservation of the covenant family. Famine would threaten that family, so God is already positioning Joseph in Egypt to become their rescuer. • Nothing in the text hints that God is scrambling to react; He is calmly steering events that look chaotic on the surface. Human Choices, Divine Coordination • Free, sinful choices: jealousy (37:11), greed (37:26-27), deception (37:31-32). • Sovereign orchestration: – The cistern is empty (37:24) so Joseph lives. – A specific caravan “happens” by at the precise moment. – The destination is Egypt—the only place capable of stockpiling grain for the coming famine (41:56-57). • God does not cause the brothers’ sin, yet He folds it into His plan without violating their will. Foreshadowing Future Deliverance • Genesis 45:5-8 — Joseph later tells his brothers, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.” • Genesis 50:20 — “You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good.” • Psalm 105:16-17 — “He called down famine… He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave.” Each passage looks back to 37:28 and interprets it as God’s deliberate action. Echoes Through the Rest of Scripture • Acts 7:9-10 — Stephen highlights Joseph’s sale as proof that “God was with him.” • Romans 8:28 — The principle: “God works all things together for good to those who love Him.” Joseph’s story is Exhibit A. • The cross: men betray Jesus for silver (Matthew 26:14-16), yet God’s sovereign purpose of redemption stands. Joseph’s experience foreshadows that ultimate act of overruling evil for good. Why It Matters Today • Severe detours may be sovereign doorways. • Opposition cannot cancel God’s promises; it can only carry them forward in an unexpected way. • When circumstances seem driven by human sin, trust that the same God who governed Genesis 37:28 is still weaving His wise, benevolent will. |
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