Jacob's older sons decided to take the flocks back up to Shechem to feed, where Simeon and Levi had taken revenge for the rape of their sister. Eventually, Jacob becomes concerned and sends Joseph. When Joseph leaves, he does so for the last time, never to return to live in the land. It will be decades before he sees his father again. Joseph cannot find his brothers. The Lord sends a stranger to give him directions. It is a scene easy to overlook. We often speak of God's "remarkable" providence. This is "unremarkable" providence. The story of Joseph — and everything that follows — all turned on this man showing up and giving accurate directions. Such unremarkable providences of the Lord are easy to accept, but what about the unremarkable providence in Jacob's decision? How often did he say, "if only I had not sent Joseph"? Yet the Lord works through both decisions. He is trustworthy no matter if our decisions have tragic consequences or are seemingly inconsequential. The scene now switches to his brothers, and we eavesdrop on their conversations. As soon as they see Joseph (and they recognize him because he is wearing the coat of many colors), they blurt out their fully formed murderous plot. They now have the opportunity. They have weapons — most likely knives, for they will not be content until they have blood, making the deed look like wild animals have torn Joseph apart. And they have the motive. Every scene in the story of Joseph so far — the evil report of his brothers (resentment), the coat of many colors (favoritism), and his dreams (envy) — have built up to this decisive moment. They are ready to murder their brother and will nearly get their way.
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
