Genesis 37:18

Joseph's touching story also points ahead to the reception the world has given to the One sent by the Father. Having no heart for their father, these men of evil ways have no eyes to recognise the one his love had sent. To them Joseph is only a dreamer whose dreams they would gladly stop by conspiring to kill him... And how eager man is to express his hatred: "They saw him from afar... they conspired against him to kill him." But God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor His ways our ways. If it is a question of the Son of the Father's love coming near to men, then He will be rejected while still far off. But it is different when a sinner is drawn to the Father. Then we read that "while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."

These words are a powerful reminder of the parable in Matthew 21: "Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him." God sent His Son into the world with this thought: "They will respect my son." But man's heart had no respect for the "well beloved" of the Father. They cast Him out... Man crucified Him; but God raised Him from the dead. Man placed Him on a cross between two thieves; God set Him at His own right hand in the heavens.

The evil heart of man is marked by corruption and violence. The brothers are ready to rid themselves of Joseph by violent acts. They were also prepared to cover their violence with corrupt and lying words. "Let us kill him," they say, "and we will say, Some fierce animal has devoured him." Violence and corruption are the outstanding marks of fallen man. He is shameless in both. He is not merely overcome by a sudden temptation. Like Joseph's brothers, he can plan his violent act and his corrupt lies in advance.

God sent Joseph's dreams, and the outcome proved them real, while what other people call reality is only a daydream. And what a mercy it was for his half-brothers, who were not brothers in heart! Their cruel purpose succeeded only in part. God turned it, in His goodness, wisdom, and power, into the very means of bringing about the exaltation they hated as much as they envied. Like Cain, their intent was to kill their brother. And why? Because, at bottom, their works were evil and their brother's righteous.

The Jew did this nineteen hundred years ago. You and I, and every man, would do the same today, if grace had not renewed us and we stood in the same place.