He tumbled down the pit like a boulder broken off a steep cliff.

Hallucinations troubled him: Yelling voices cursed him as fists pummeled his body. Then he was falling and falling and falling. Thud! Every muscle jerked when he hit bottom. Waves of pain drenched his entire body as the ache in his wounds wrenched him back to consciousness. The agony made his stomach wretch. The badly battered teen rolled onto his belly, gasping for air. He wanted to scream but no sound came. Joseph blacked out.

When he came to, Joseph yelled for help; he screamed for his brothers. No help came. No brother answered. Paralyzed with fear, he sobbed and yelled again. Joseph spit dirt out of his mouth and tasted blood. Dazed with shock, he could not focus in the darkness. He blinked to clear his sight, but his vision remained blurry.

“Help me!” Joseph cried. He pleaded for aid. No aid came. Slowly regaining control, Joseph realized one eye was swollen shut and his arms and legs were trembling.

The bruised teen sat up with great effort. Thankfully no bones were broken. He rotated his aching body in the blackness. As he turned, he saw sharp shafts of light cut through the darkness near the top of the well. For a few seconds the bright light assaulted his one working eye. He had to turn his head away. Adjusting to the light he could see that escape was impossible. He screamed out: “Somebody, please help me!”

Joseph heard muffled voices above him. His brothers were up there, but no one helped him. He recognized Reuben’s voice: “Reuben, help me!” he called. The voices moved away. He was alone—separate from his brothers. Joseph realized that no rescue was coming (Genesis 42:21). He was shattered with anguish.

Joseph sat and shivered in the silence. Hours passed. He felt numb and drained emotionally. All light in the well began to fade as the sun set. Fear gripped him again. He cried out over and over, but no one answered. The young man was hurt, cold and hungry. His brothers had stolen his magnificent coat (Genesis 37:23). They had violently stripped it from him. But Joseph knew it signified more: His brothers desired to peel his inheritance from him. Even more, they wanted to dismantle his father’s love for him. He bowed his head in deep sorrow. Darkness swallowed up Jacob’s favorite son.

Judah Sells Joseph

The brothers moved away from the well gone dry. Reuben had been successful in saving Joseph’s life, yet he knew his brothers were still hot with hatred for Joseph. Believing Joseph was now safe, Reuben left them and went off by himself to collect his thoughts.

The angry brothers gathered together around a campfire. Some poked fun over the boy’s fear and screaming. Others spoke boldly, justifying their actions. Several still wanted Joseph dead. “And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt” (Genesis 37:25). What lack of conscience! Their brother was bruised and battered in the bottom of a pit, but they sat down and ate a meal. What depravity! When Judah saw the spice traders, an idea flashed into his head.

After calming down, Judah, like Reuben, grew concerned over Joseph’s fate. He did not like his brothers’ continuing murderous talk. However, he did not want to see Joseph restored to his father’s side either. He spoke out, stopping their wild talk. “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh” (verses 26-27). Judah’s brothers liked the idea. All present gave their consent.

As the merchants drew near the brothers rushed to the well. Joseph was startled by their voices. “Hey, Joseph, do you want out?” A rope hit him on the head. Fear and relief flooded Joseph: He was either doomed to death or bound for freedom. But he believed Reuben would protect him. This has to mean relief, he thought.

Joseph tied the rope around his waist, and was hoisted to the surface. Each tug on the rope assaulted his many bruises. Seeing his brothers at the top of the well, he got a sinking feeling. Reuben wasn’t there. Looking at each brother—one by one—he saw that every face was filled with contempt.

As Joseph looked to Judah, his older brother explained, “No, we are not going to kill you, brother. We are selling you to the Ishmeelites!” Joseph was shocked—he tried to break free. But the brothers overpowered him. Unable to break away, Joseph became as lifeless and dry as the well from which he had been delivered. Could his future really be slavery? he thought. One brother spoke out mockingly, “How does being a slave fit into your dreams?” They all laughed.

Taught by Affliction

Joseph’s captors bound his hands and feet (Psalm 105:17-18). He stood in disbelief as Judah negotiated his price (Genesis 37:28). The betrayal cut deep into his heart and split his mind. Never could he have imagined his brothers doing such a thing. It was too much. Joseph begged them not to sell him into slavery. He cried out as he was led away. As he was taken away, he heard his brothers yell out, “See you later, dreamer. We’ll see how a slave rules over us!” Joseph wept bitterly.

The deacon Stephen explained why Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt: “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him” (Acts 7:9). The selfish sin of envy led the heads of Israel to sell Joseph into Egypt. Yet, their actions could never change the fact that Joseph was destined for greatness. Why? God was behind Joseph. God chose him for the specific purpose of saving the tiny nation from starvation and death. These verses show specifically that Joseph was a type of Christ. He was sold for 20 pieces of silver; Christ was betrayed for 30.

Of course, Joseph had to learn that God was with him. Yes, even while being sold into slavery. How did Joseph learn that? Stephen also stated, “And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house” (verse 10). Joseph learned God was with him through all of his tests and trials. Joseph came to fully understand that God brought him out of all of his horrible suffering. This is why we should not fear afflictions—we should cherish them.

We are taught many lessons through tests and trials. Enduring them with the right attitude always bring us closer to God our Father. Remember, Joseph’s life, so rich with incredible experiences, has much to teach us. Each affliction was one more step leading him to his true purpose. Eventually, he became second-in-command over Egypt.

Do we see that all of our afflictions are preparing us to rule as second-in-command with Jesus Christ? What a future we have ahead of us. First we shall rule this Earth—then the endless universe.

Coat of Blood

At dawn, Reuben returned to the pit. He called out to Joseph but there was no answer. “Joseph, answer me!” He leaned over into the pit. A sick feeling came over him as he discovered that Joseph was not in the well. He tore his clothes in grief (Genesis 37:29).

Reuben hurried to find his brothers. Upon locating them, he quickly recognized that Joseph was not in their company. He screamed at them, “Where is Joseph?” With a wry smile one brother said boldly, “He is on his way to Egypt.” Several brothers chuckled, yet Reuben did not laugh. Judah quickly explained what they had done. The blood drained from Reuben’s face.

Jacob’s firstborn understood how devastating this would be for their aging father. The old man could be so overcome with grief that it could kill him. He wondered, How can I help my father bear his grief? There was no escaping the trouble sure to afflict Jacob and all of them (verse 30).

Jacob’s sons devised a new plan to deflect any culpability: “And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood” (verse 31). They made it look like wild beasts had killed Joseph. They took the bloodstained coat to their father. Unified in their plot, they donned sad faces and told Jacob, “This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no” (verse 32). What calloused liars—every one!

The elderly Jacob recognized the coat immediately as his beloved Joseph’s.

Jacob cried out in anguish. He believed their lie. The patriarch imagined his son torn into pieces. Trembling from his grief, “Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him” (verses 34-35). Though all of Jacob’s family tried to comfort him, nothing could be done to ease his grief for Joseph.

Jacob’s first 10 sons tried to remove Joseph from their presence. Ironically, he was still with them because of Jacob’s love for him. Jacob’s constant grief over the loss of Rachel’s firstborn forced them to recognize that they would always take second place to Joseph.