JOSEPH #7 - JOSEPH SOLD TO THE ISHMAELITES AND MIDIANITES

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3603

JOSEPH #7

JOSEPH SOLD TO THE ISHMAELITES AND MIDIANITES.

"And there passed by Midianites, merchants; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they brought Joseph to Egypt.(37:28)."

Both tribes were responsible and accountable for the sale of Joseph.

Both tribes were related. Ishmael was born to Abraham through Hagar (Genesis 16) the handmaiden. The Midianites were descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham and his concubine Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2). 

This chapter constitutes a turning point in the life of Joseph and the history of the Jewish people; for it marks the descent of the Israelites into Egypt. 

Genesis 37:36 says the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, the courtier of Pharaoh. But Genesis 39:1 says the Ishmaelites brought Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, the courtier of Pharaoh.

Both are true.   

Genesis 37:28 (NIV), shows that both the Ishmaelites and the Midianites were involved in the selling of Joseph:

"So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt." - Genesis 37:28 (NIV).

In this verse, both tribes are mentioned in connection with the sale of Joseph.

It is interesting to note the kinship related to these three groups of people. Joseph and his brothers are the great-grandsons of Abraham. The Ishmaelites are descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son with Hagar. The Midianites are descendants of Abraham's family with Keturah, his second wife.

And so through this narrative, 4 distinct groups are mentioned: 

1. The Israelites

2. The Ishmaelites

3. The Midianites

4  The Egyptians 

Joseph as a hapless pawn between these groups is thus a prefigurement of Christ who will 

unite all races by His sufferings on the Cross.

Now we can better understand the gospel's account of the ministry of Jesus in Mark 10:45.

"For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

He is the only One who can unite the traditional enemies of Israel: the descendants of the Ishmaelites, Midianites, and Egyptians.

He is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who came to bear the iniquities of many, so they can be accounted righteous (Isaiah 53:11) in God's eyes.