Genesis 37:20

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

And so his sufferings begin. The Lord marks him out as the heir of glory. Joseph speaks of the goodness he had found, and of God's high purpose for him, and his brothers hate him. They envy him; and who can stand before envy? They had already begrudged him his father's favour, and now they hate him for God's. They hate him for his words and for his dreams. They are in the field together, as Cain and Abel had been long before. There they discuss whether to kill him, to throw him into a pit, or to sell him to strangers. And all this happened while he was serving them. He had come a long way to ask after their welfare ... and to carry them blessings from their father's house with their father's love. Such a moment was their opportunity.

He came into this world, which He had made along with everything in it, but what happened? He was hated. He was not wanted. So Joseph's brothers hated him... In the same way, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. When He came into the world men said, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours" (Mark 12:7). Joseph's brothers say, "Come now, let us kill him... and we will see what will become of his dreams." In other words, they plan to murder him, and then to back up their murder with deceit and lies. That was the proposal, but it was not carried out, because Reuben stepped in and Joseph was thrown into the pit. But with the Lord Jesus Christ the murder did take place. Men did kill Him.

Man imagines in vain that corruption and violence will prosper. Joseph's brothers had planned to kill their brother, and they meant to cover the act with lying. Yet they can say with complete confidence, "We will see what will become of his dreams." They will indeed see. And it will go badly for those who reject Christ. They too will see. Is it not written, "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him"?

God sent Joseph's dreams, and they proved as real in the event as other people's realities are mere daydreams. His half-brothers were not brothers at heart. What a mercy it was for them that their cruel purpose only took effect in part! God's goodness, wisdom and power turned it into the very elevation they hated as much as they envied. Like Cain, they intended to kill their brother. And why? Because, underneath it all, their works were evil and their brother's were righteous.

The Jews 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 similar circumstances.