I encourage you to read this week’s Parashat in as many translations as you can. Read the story of Joseph being sold into slavery specifically verses 37:26-28, 36. Here Judah comes up with the idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Read this in the NLT, ASV, NKJ, DARBY, and HCBS. You will notice that I some translations it says that Joseph’s Brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites. Others say that Midianites came by and drew Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites.

So which is it? Who actually sold Joseph into slavery? The truth is all parties participated in the selling of Joseph. What you need to know is everyone involved came from Abraham. Ishmael was a son of Abraham whose mother was Hagar. Isaac was the choose son of Abraham whose mother was Sarah. Midian was a son of Abraham whose mother was Keturah who Abraham married after the death of Sarah. No matter how you look at it or break it down brothers sold Joseph into slavery. Sons of Abraham from each of his wives participated in selling Jacob’s favorite son Joseph into slavery.

Ishmael was sent away when he was young to protect Issac. Before Abraham died he gave everything to Issac and gave gifts to his other sons and sent them away from Issac. We have Jacob’s sons who see there is a preferred son just as Abraham’s sons saw Issac was preferred. History repeats itself. Now all the brothers are getting what they feel is vindication.

When Joseph’s brothers return home they present Joseph’s coat covered in goats blood to Jacob. The brothers ask Jacob one question is this your son’s coat or not? When you read it quickly you miss what they are really asking. They know as well a Jacob that it is Joseph’s coat. What they are asking is does this coat really belong to Joseph or should it belong to someone else? Everything backfired on the brothers because Jacob would not engage in the conversation. Jacob immediately mourn and refuse to be comforted for years.

In the next chapter it says at that time Judah moved away. Why did he move away? The brothers blamed him for the mourning of their father. It was his idea to sell Joseph. Judah has disgraced himself and the next story is about him being restored to the family for taking ownership of his actions. Today you may be an outcast. You just have to take ownership of your mistakes. Today I pray you have the courage to be restored it is never to late.