From Pit to Pardon: God’s Redemptive Grace in Joseph’s Story

The Joseph Narrative

Life often feels like a series of pits—moments of betrayal, hardship, or loss that leave us questioning God’s plan. The story of Joseph, found in Genesis 37–50, takes us on a journey from a pit of betrayal to a pardon of forgiveness, showing how God weaves even our darkest moments into His gracious purposes, giving us more than we deserve through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ. It’s a story that shows us how God is with us in our lowest moments, just as he was with Joseph. It is a foreshadowing of how God will ultimately redeem us all and is a beautiful reflection of what that looks like in a practical narrative.

Joseph’s Arrogance and the Seeds of Betrayal (Genesis 37:3–11)

The story of Joseph starts off at the very beginning declaring Joseph was the chosen son of his father. His father was Israel/Jacob, one of the patriarchs of the Jewish faith and one of the men God made a personal covenant with to bring about redemption for the world through. Right from the beginning, we see the target on Joseph’s back with his brothers since familial lineage and birth rights were such a big deal back then.

Genesis 37:3–4 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.” - about how Joseph was the chosen son and that made his brothers jealous and put a target on his back.

Verses 5-11 outline the dreams Joseph had that he probably should have kept to himself. I think the text highlights these dreams the way they do to immediately get us questioning Joseph’s motives in telling his brothers and families these dreams since they portrayed the older siblings and his entire family for that matter bowing down to him. The text wants us to see that even though Joseph was chosen, he wasn’t perfect and he suffered from human flaws just like the rest of us.

Genesis 37:5–11 “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”

The first section of Joseph’s story sets us up to see Joseph as a flawed person and how his brothers jealousy and rage were bubbling at the surface.

Betrayal and Sale into Slavery (Genesis 37:12–36)

In the next section of the story, we see how Joseph’s brothers have plotted to kill him. Their jealousy rages and they make the choice to betray not only their brother, but their entire family and plot to have him killed. They allow their human nature to overtake them and move forward with something they know to be wrong.

Reuben intervenes and is able to talk some sense into his brothers and convinces them to not kill him, but to sell him into slavery. Reuben thought he could rescue his brother before he was actually sold into slavery and then that would be the end of it. Despite his efforts, Reuben was not successful in preventing the demise of his brother. He was sold into slavery for 30 pieces of silver. I immediately think about how Jesus was also betrayed like Joseph was by his brothers. Judas betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver in Matthew 26:15.

Genesis 37:18–28 “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, 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.” But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “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. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said…” - the brothers initially plot to kill him. Reuben comes to his aid and convinces his brothers not to kill Joseph, but rather just to sell him into slavery. Point out how he was sold to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver by Judah and how similar that is to Jesus being betrayed by Judas for 30 pieces of silver in Matthew 26:15.

Upon realizing his efforts were in vain, Reuben is distressed. He tears his clothes and goes into damage control mode. I think he knows what this will do to his father. I think Reuben knows at that moment what kind of trajectory this has put their family on. They concoct a plan to make it look like he was attacked by an animal to break the news to their father. Jacob is grief stricken. His son, his chosen son was gone. The son who he thought the Lord had intended to continue the covenant relationship with was gone. Little did he know at that moment, Joseph’s story of redemption was only beginning.

Genesis 37:29–35 “When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 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.”

I believe it was at this moment seeing their father stricken with grief that the brothers regret began to set in. From reading this section, I am reminded how much like Joseph’s brothers that I really am. Left up to my own human devices, my initial intentions aren’t always the best. Often times my selfish desires, jealousy, envy, and self doubt get the best of me, even when I try my best to squash them. It’s at that moment, just as Joseph was at his lowest point, that Jesus enters our pit of sin and suffering through his incarnation and sacrifice. Just like Joseph, Jesus was despised and rejected, yet God was with him, working out his plan to bring salvation to any of those that would choose it. Just as God’s spirit was with Joseph in his pit of despair, God is with you in your pit of despair. He is with you through the sacrifice of his son Jesus to redeem not only your physical needs in this world, but to redeem you spiritually and to grow you and prepare you for His purpose for you.

Rise to Power in Egypt and the Brothers’ Turmoil (Genesis 39:1–23, 41:41–43, 41:53–57, 42:1–8)

Chapter 39 begins assuring us that God’s spirit was with Joseph after the betrayal he had gone through at the hands of his brother. Genesis 39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.” Even though The Lord was with Joseph, his persecution didn’t stop with his brothers original betrayal. He goes on to be falsely accused and imprisoned. The Lord continues to move Josephs story forward during his time in Egypt ending with Joseph being exalted by Pharaoh due to his interpretation of his dreams that will one day save Egypt from a terrible famine that is to come.

Genesis 41:38 “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?”” confirms again that God’s spirit was uniquely with Joseph. Joseph started in a pit of turmoil at the hands of his brother and ends up ruling over all of Egypt. God turned his story from one that could have easily ended in the demise of not only him, but also for his entire family that remained back in Canaan.

As we know from scripture, the famines do come. Egypt is prepared because of the Wisdom God granted Joseph,

The Weight of Guilt (Genesis 42:1–8, 21–22)

The story picks up years after Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery for 20 pieces of silver, consumed by jealousy (Genesis 37). Now, a famine ravages Canaan, and Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for food, unaware that Joseph, their betrayed brother, is now a powerful ruler. In Genesis 42:21, the brothers confess to each other, “Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us.” Their words reveal a burden of guilt that has haunted them for years. They believe the famine and their desperation are divine consequences for their sin.

This moment reminds us of our own struggles with guilt. Like the brothers, we often carry the weight of past wrongs—choices driven by envy, anger, or selfishness. Their story shows that guilt, left unaddressed, festers, but God uses it to draw us toward repentance.

2. Testing and Transformation (Genesis 42:9–43:34)

Joseph, unrecognized by his brothers, tests them to see if their hearts have changed. He accuses them of being spies, imprisons Simeon, and demands they bring Benjamin to Egypt. These trials force the brothers to confront their past. In Genesis 42:23–24, Joseph overhears their remorse and weeps privately, showing his heart for reconciliation despite their betrayal.

The brothers’ actions reveal growth. Judah, who once suggested selling Joseph, now offers to protect Benjamin (Genesis 43:8–9). Their willingness to return to Egypt with Benjamin and face uncertainty suggests a shift from selfishness to family loyalty. God is working in their hearts, preparing them for grace, much like He works in us through life’s trials to refine our character.

3. Repentance and Revelation (Genesis 44:1–45:15)

The turning point comes in Genesis 44, when Joseph tests the brothers one last time by framing Benjamin for theft. Judah pleads for Benjamin’s life, offering himself as a substitute (Genesis 44:33). This act of self-sacrifice proves their transformation. Joseph can no longer contain himself and reveals his identity: “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” (Genesis 45:3). He weeps openly, embraces his stunned brothers, and assures them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive” (Genesis 45:7–8).

This moment of forgiveness is breathtaking. Joseph doesn’t condemn his brothers but extends grace, providing food, land, and safety in Egypt. Their repentance—marked by honest confession and changed behavior—opens the door to reconciliation. Similarly, our repentance before God leads to His forgiveness, far beyond what we deserve.

4. God’s Redemptive Plan (Genesis 45:16–50:21)

The brothers settle in Egypt under Joseph’s care, and Jacob is reunited with his son before his death. Yet, after Jacob dies, the brothers fear Joseph’s forgiveness was temporary (Genesis 50:15). They beg for mercy, and Joseph reassures them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:19–20). Joseph’s grace reflects God’s ability to redeem even the worst betrayals for His purposes.

This story foreshadows Christ’s redemptive work. Like Joseph, Jesus was betrayed—sold for 30 pieces of silver by Judas (Matthew 26:15). Yet, through His death and resurrection, Jesus offers forgiveness to all who repent, transforming our sins into opportunities for grace. Just as Joseph saved his brothers from starvation, Jesus saves us from spiritual death, granting redemption we could never earn.

Conclusion: The Grace of Christ

Joseph’s brothers teach us that no sin is too great for God’s grace. Their betrayal led to Joseph’s suffering, yet God used it to save many lives, including theirs. In the same way, our sins led to Christ’s cross, but through His sacrifice, we receive forgiveness and eternal life. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Like the brothers, we must face our guilt, repent, and trust in God’s mercy. Joseph’s forgiveness points to Jesus, who welcomes us into His family, not because of our worthiness, but because of His boundless love.

Let us leave here today encouraged to confess our sins, embrace God’s grace, and extend forgiveness to others, just as Joseph did and as Christ does for us. Amen.