The circumstances that allow for the fruit of bitterness
12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph . . . Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am . . . And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers . . . at Dothan. Genesis 37:12-17 (ESV)
Man’s depraved perspective and the fruit of bitterness
18 . . . before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 . . . “Here comes this dreamer. 20 . . . let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” Genesis 37:18-20 (ESV)
Timidity in good intentions and the fruit of bitterness
21 . . . Reuben . . . rescued him out of their hands. . . “Let us not take his life . . . 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. Genesis 37:21-22 (ESV)
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” Genesis 37:29-30 (ESV)
Progressive actions that define the fruit of bitterness
23 . . . Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of . . . the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 . . . and threw him into a pit . . . 25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites . . . on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 . . . and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver . . . Genesis 37:23-28 (ESV)
31 Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 . . . and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33 . . . , “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. Genesis 37:31-35 (ESV)
Lessons to learn from Joseph:
Obedience does not guarantee success or ease
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV); Hebrews 11:22
God’s providence and plan is at work despite and even through the sinful fruit of bitterness of those around us.
Though it may seem that the brothers prevail, the fruit of bitterness, as with all sin, costs more than you were willing to pay.
21 Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” Genesis 42:21 (ESV); Philippians 1:15-17
We must not be passive or sit by and allow injustice to occur.
The unjust mistreatment and suffering of Joseph remind us of Christ and His suffering in our behalf.