12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are your brothers not pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “I will go.” 14 Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

Genesis 37:12-17 (NASB)

Dangerous journey

Israel decides to send Jacob out on a dangerous journey. Joseph has revealed his dreams of lordship over the family and the brothers are not fond of him, to say the least. He’s also previously brought back a bad report on his brothers. Is it wise to send Joseph to get another report? Israel must not think anything of it. But he should have remembered the anger of his sons getting retribution from the Shechamites for defiling their sister. Who knows what they’d do. I wonder what Joseph thought.

“As Jacob’s sons were now gone to feed the flock on the parcel of ground they had bought from the Shechemites, (see Ge 33:19,) and where they had committed such a horrible slaughter, their father might feel more solicitous about their welfare, lest the neighbouring tribes should rise against them, and revenge the murder of the Shechemites.” (Clarke’s commentary)

Searching for trouble

Joseph dutifully heads out searching for his brothers. As we’ll see tomorrow, he was searching for trouble. He goes to the area he thought they were and can’t find them. Maybe the cell signal was no good there out in the wilderness. 😀 Somehow, a kind gentleman sees him wandering around and asks if he can help, then directs him in the way, to Dothan. There he finds them. There he finds trouble.

RЯeflection

• Have you set out to do a good thing and it ended in trouble? This will play out for Joseph tomorrow (and through his life). In the end we’ll see God’s hand – even using the evil of man to accomplish His will as Romans 8:28 says. Let’s be faithful in doing the good work God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10)