Bible Study Online Article
Joseph's brothers had decided to sell their brother instead of leaving him to die in that pit of darkness. Reuben the oldest out of the ten had planned to return after his brothers had left and rescue Joseph in order to take him back home. Reuben wanted to use this event to try to regain a favorable position between him and his Jacob. Reuben had lost what little favor that he had with his father, after he slept with his step mother - Bilhah. But when he had made it back to the pit in which Joseph had been thrown; the interpreter of dreams was no longer there. Reuben would become frantic and upset as he tore his clothes. He went and sought out his brothers as they were making their way back home. "The boy isn't there! Where can I turn now?" he said while confronting them. With Reuben being the oldest, Jacob would be looking at him to provide the answers on why Joseph wasn't with them and would also demand that he tell about his son's whereabouts. But leave it to his brothers... they had a plan on how to deceive their father, for they still had the richly ornamented robe that Jacob had given Joseph. The plan included that they were to take one of the goats from their herd and slaughter it. Next they would take Joseph's robe and dip it in the goat's blood, making it to look like Joseph had been killed by some kind of rapacious animal or predator. Next it's unclear depending on your translation, for either they had paid a messenger to take the robe (coat of many colors) back to their father. Or, they themselves had taken the robe back to their father. For me, it doesn't matter how the robe made it back, what's important, is the fact that the robe did make it make to Jacob in one way or another. "We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe," Jacob son's would ask of him. Much to Jacob's surprise he recognizes the robe. "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces," the distraught father cried out as he tore his clothes. Jacob would put on sackcloth (a coarse thick garment used for mourning or penitence) and mourn for his son for several days. This depressing behavior would lead to all of Jacob's sons and daughters (Dinah, daughter-in-laws and their daughters) to come and try to comfort the promise bearer. But nothing positive would come from their efforts, as they tried to console their father. "in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son," Jacob would say, as he wept for Joseph. Can you possibly imagine the thoughts that were going through Jacob's head? Here he sends his favorite and most responsible son out to see about the safety of his brothers. In return, he's lead to believe that Joseph himself had been killed and fears that he has been lost forever. I can see Jacob second guessing his actions, thinking he should have kept Joseph home that day. But unfortunately that didn't happen and now he's in a terrible emotional position of having something that he held dear to his heart, ripped away for the second time. First it was Rachel the woman who he loved with all his heart, who was also Joseph's mother who died during the birth of Benjamin (Jacob's youngest son of the twelve). In a previous article I pointed out how I felt that the closeness and bond between Jacob and Joseph had grew stronger, because of Rachel's death. Joseph was a piece of her memory that Jacob was able to hold, touch and be proud of as the child that she longed for, grew into something special. Now that piece is no longer there and so therefore he must now deal with the pendulum effect of once having a great affection for someone to now having to endure a great affliction because they're no longer there. That's the experiences that life brings sometimes, just as the giant sway of the pendulum goes from one direction to the opposite - immeasurable love to unmeasurable grief. I find it hard to try to encourage someone to battle these types of emotions and often times these are the type of experiences that leads them to question God's love for them. Sometimes we have to step back while we let a person be and hope and pray that their heart won't be harden. For we must believe that God will lead them safely through their emotional storm that they now find themselves battling. But I will say this one thing before I end this article. I will never doubt the love that God has for us, no matter what. For the mere fact that he has allowed us to live in his wonderful creation as representatives of Him, through His image and likeness - is a claim no other creature can make. It doesn't matter - if it's for one moment or a hundred years. The fact that I was allowed to experience life in such a way brings joy to my heart and mind. Oh, what a honor of having such a privilege to be God's ambassador in His awesome creation - to have the position granted to me in the first place - is invaluable.
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 69) Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams 71) Joseph & The Pit of Darkness 72) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 73) The Importance of Judah's History 76) Tamar's Revenge 78) Joseph the Servant of Favor 79) Potiphar's Wife Pursues Joseph 82) The Dreaming Cupbearer & Baker 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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