Reuben stepped in on Joseph's behalf, but he didn't stop his brothers all together. He prevented them from killing Joseph before throwing him in the pit so that he could come back and rescue him later. But, what Reuben didn't know is that his brothers had other plans. But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying…"Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him"—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. —Gen. 37:21–22 The brothers listened to Reuben and did not kill Joseph, but when Reuben returned to rescue Joseph, he was gone! The brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites before Reuben could save him. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?" —Gen. 37:29–30 Reuben was incredibly upset, and as we see in Scripture, he confronts his brothers. He had a choice about what to do next. He could tell his father what had happened, or go along with his brothers' deception. Next week, we will look closer as Reuben and Joseph's story continues to develop, and how sin that appears to be hidden ultimately comes to light. But, as we see throughout Scripture, God continually saves and restores His people, and takes that which is meant for evil and uses it for good. This story is no exception. |
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