Joseph Is Thrown Into The Pit
“When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.” Genesis 37:21-22 (NIV)
Through the Eyes of Reuben, Joseph’s Brother
I’m Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob’s twelve sons. Since I’m the oldest, I’m often responsible for keeping the other eleven in line. I make sure everyone’s sticking to their chores and tending the flocks. Occasionally, I have to break up a fight or two. But lately, it’s been the attitude of our half-brother, Joseph, that’s created the most animosity.
It’s pretty obvious Joseph is the favorite son, but things went down hill fast when dad gave him that cool robe. With Joseph strutting around like a peacock, that coat became a constant reminder of his favored status in the family. Then he began having dreams, which became nightmares of prophetic submission for the rest of us!
Nobody loves a braggart, and that’s just what Joseph had become.
Soon my brothers began plotting to kill him. I suggested we just throw him down into a nearby well so I could circle back around later and rescue him. But they tricked me and sold him into slavery when a caravan of merchants passed by.
One betrayal lead to another. We deceived our father with a lie about Joseph’s death. I could almost see his heart break.
My father grieved the loss of his dear Joseph. His mourning seemed to never end. My grief was undeniable, but I felt an extra burden of guilt for not saving him. I often wonder if I’ll ever see Joseph again.
Conversation Starters
- One sinful choice often leads to another. Track how rivalry leads to betrayal from Joseph’s story in Genesis 37.
- As the oldest, Reuben felt responsible and tried to save Joseph. How might he have handled the growing tension differently? How might the story have ended if those efforts were successful?
- Think about sibling relationships in your life. If rivalries exists, pray for attitudes of compromise and resolution.
An Adult Perspective
Parental favoritism and sibling rivalry are as old as the hills, or more accurately, as old as Genesis!
Joseph’s brothers chose to respond to blatant rivalry with an angry, almost deadly force. According to Erin Brown Conroy, author and writer, “The number one feeling associated with sibling rivalry is anger. A valuable tool to hand our child is the knowledge of the power of choice. Physical responses often pop into a child’s mind and fists first, but we need to teach our children early in their lives that hurting someone is a bad choice.”
Favoritism and arrogance may have been tolerable, but the thought of bowing down in submission was more than Joseph’s brothers could bear. In March, this story ran in The Washington Post: “Son says sibling rivalry fueled Crystal Cathedral downfall.” In the interview, Dr. Robert A. Schuller, only son and one-time successor of Crystal Cathedral, spoke about his sisters: “They didn’t want to be accountable to me, their brother. So they took steps into their own hands to make sure that they had job security.”
Parental favoritism and sibling rivalry – as old as Genesis, as current as today – are capable of destroying even strong family bonds. Don’t let it eat away at the core of your family!
Sibling rivalry can spread like a fungus. Treat it early and often!
