What is the meaning of Genesis 37:28? So when the Midianite traders passed by “So when the Midianite traders passed by” • God’s providence is woven even into the arrival of these merchants; what looks like coincidence is part of His larger design (cf. Proverbs 16:9; Genesis 45:5). • Midianites, descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2), often appear as nomadic traders (Judges 6:3-4). Their presence underscores the far-reaching influence of Abraham’s lineage. • The brothers’ original plan was murder (Genesis 37:20), but Judah’s proposal led to this alternative (Genesis 37:26-27). While still sinful, it kept Joseph alive, preserving God’s chosen instrument (Psalm 105:17). his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit “his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit” • The pit, empty and waterless (Genesis 37:24), symbolizes hopelessness; yet Joseph’s deliverance from it foreshadows future rescues (Jeremiah 38:6-13; Psalm 40:2). • The brothers act together in cruelty, reinforcing the depth of their jealousy (Acts 7:9). • Though Joseph is lifted physically, his peril continues; sometimes deliverance comes in stages (2 Corinthians 1:10). and sold him for twenty shekels of silver “and sold him for twenty shekels of silver” • Twenty shekels equaled the average price of a teenage slave (Leviticus 27:5), revealing how little they valued their own brother. • Silver often marks betrayal—compare the thirty pieces paid to Judas (Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 26:15). • The transaction shows sin’s cold calculation; yet God will transform this sale into salvation for many (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). to the Ishmaelites “to the Ishmaelites” • The Ishmaelites, like the Midianites, descend from Abraham (Genesis 16:15; 25:13-16). Family lines intertwine even in wrongdoing, highlighting sin’s reach. • Long-standing tension between Isaac’s and Ishmael’s offspring resurfaces (Genesis 21:9-10; Galatians 4:29). • Joseph passes from one branch of Abraham’s family to another, setting up God’s broader plan to bless “all families of the earth” through this line (Genesis 12:3). who took him to Egypt “who took him to Egypt” • Egypt becomes the stage for Joseph’s rise and Israel’s eventual growth into a nation (Acts 7:10; Genesis 46:3). • What begins as forced relocation ends in preservation: famine will drive Jacob’s family south, where Joseph will provide (Genesis 45:7-8). • God often moves His servants into unfamiliar places to accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 55:8-9; Hebrews 11:8). summary Joseph’s brothers traded jealousy for coins, yet every phrase of Genesis 37:28 reveals God’s hidden choreography. Midianite timing, a pit’s brief reprieve, the silver price, Ishmaelite hands, and Egypt’s distant horizon—all serve the divine plan. Human sin meant evil, but the Lord meant it for good, positioning Joseph to preserve life and advance the covenant promises. |
    |