Sold

Then some Midianite traders passed by,

so they pulled him up

and lifted Joseph out of the pit,

and sold him to the Ishmaelites

for twenty shekels of silver.

Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 37:28

Joseph’s brothers decided not to kill him. Instead they sold him, sending him to Egypt and going home and cruelly telling their father that all they found of him was his bloody tunic.

Joseph was sold by his brothers for twenty shekels.
Their brother’s life was only worth twenty shekels split between ten brothers.

Jesus was also sold: “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?’ And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him” (Matthew 26:14–15).

How much harder the betrayal falls when it comes from those we thought loved us. Jesus, of course, knew his betrayal was coming, for the Scriptures would be fulfilled. In Zechariah 11:12–13 we read, “So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.’” Of course, knowing doesn’t make it any easier, nor does it make the actual act of the betrayal easier to bear.

Joseph, I am sure, being the younger, disliked little brother, was probably used to being slightly tortured by the hands of his brothers when Daddy wasn’t around. I am sure that as he cried out from the pit, he held hope that this was just another one of those moments and that eventually his brothers would pull him up. I cannot imagine the look of horror and pleading that was upon his face as he was sold to become a slave in a strange land. 

Do you realize, my friend, that we were sold by our father for one piece of fruit? But we will see that the amazing thing is that God allowed it all for His greater glory.

Oh Father,

I was sold by my forefather, Adam, to be a slave in this land. I was placed under the yoke of sin, and my taskmaster was cruel and hard. I was born a slave and had no idea I was a slave that could be free. Then You, my Creator, sent Your Son in the likeness of my flesh to come and pay my ransom, for I was a slave and my redemption was too costly. I could not redeem myself or anyone else (Psalm 49:7–9). Oh, my Jesus, thank You for coming to set me free! You paid my debt through Your death on the cross and rose again so that I might have eternal life in You. You were sold that I might be bought. My Jesus, I love You. Oh Father, help me to walk in a manner worthy of my redemption, and use me, oh God, to go out to the slaves and tell them about the One who is able to set them free.

My Jesus, it is in Your name I pray,

Amen.