TOOK HIM TO EGYPT / GENESIS 37:28

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(KJV) Genesis 37:28

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Detours to Destiny: Trusting God When Taken to Egypt

We have all experienced moments where our plans were shattered by the actions, choices, or cruelty of others. In those moments, it feels like our story has veered completely off course, leaving us stranded in a reality we never wanted.

A profound example of this happens in Genesis 37:28: “So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.”

This single sentence marks the ultimate heartbreak. Betrayed by his own flesh and blood, stripped of his special robe, and thrown into a dark pit, Joseph is suddenly handed over to strangers. He becomes human cargo dragged across a desert toward a foreign land. From Joseph’s perspective, his life, his family, and the divine dreams of his youth are over.

But while the brothers intended to get rid of Joseph forever, God was using their malice as a vehicle to transport him to his ultimate destiny. They took him to Egypt—but God sent him there.

The Sovereign Setup

It is incredibly difficult to see the hand of God when you are in the back of a slave caravan. Joseph spent years in Egypt facing injustice, false accusations, and imprisonment. Yet, looking back from the end of the story, Egypt was exactly where he needed to be.

God positioned Joseph in Egypt to:

Preserve Nations: He rose to become second-in-command of Egypt, managing a global famine strategy.
Save His Family: The very brothers who sold him eventually had to come to Egypt for food, ensuring the survival of the lineage of Israel.
Refine His Character: The pit and the prison guarded Joseph against pride, teaching him to rely solely on the Lord.

Years later, Joseph would look back at this exact moment and tell his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

Your “Egypt” is Not the End

When people treat you cruelly, drop you into a pit of despair, or sell out your trust, remember Joseph. Human rebellion and jealousy cannot abort God’s sovereign will for your life.

Your current trial might feel like a forced detour to an unwanted destination. However, God is entirely capable of taking the worst things done to you and weaving them into a beautiful tapestry of deliverance, purpose, and grace. Keep your heart free from bitterness, trust the unseen hand of your Father, and know that even in “Egypt,” the Lord is with you.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, sometimes life hurts, and the actions of others leave us feeling broken, betrayed, and misplaced. When we find ourselves in deep pits or marching toward unexpected “Egypts,” give us the grace to trust Your sovereign plan. We thank You that no human plot can stop Your divine destiny for our lives. Turn our pain into purpose, guard our hearts against bitterness, and let Your goodness triumph over every evil intended against us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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