Genesis 37:21 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 to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
Reuben could have simply rose up and said, “This is wrong! We can’t do this!” Reuben wanted to be merciful to Joseph, but he also wanted to please the other brothers who hated Joseph. The other brothers had their plan and Reuben had his plan. Reuben didn’t try to stop his brothers; he tried to out-smart them. Joseph was stripped of his coat of many colors, the sign of his fathers favor, cast into he pit, and the brothers sat down to eat after this harmless act against their brother. The brothers probably laughed as the Ishmaelites went their way to Egypt, feeling good that they didn’t kill Joseph and that they made a little money in the process. Best of all, they thought they had defeated the dream, the revelation from God. (Guzik)
We should note that this heartless act was not only against Joseph but also against Jacob. Where did these sons of Jacob get such deceptive and cruel ideas from? How much hate was in this family? How much anger and unrest festered each day in this family?
Our hearts and minds can be home for good or bad, godly or ungodly, hate or love, family bonds or family division. When our eyes get out of focus of our purpose in life to honor and glorify Jesus Christ we are left to follow after our own sinful desires or those of others and become a tool for Satan’s work. How many families would still be together if lust, greed, pride, and anger were discerned and cast out of the hearts and minds of those being ruled and influenced by them? Once a heart and mind are given into to these thoughts, Satan can lead you around like a little child. We are given free will to choose to do right or wrong. How many times do we choose to do wrong because by worldly standards it is right? How many times when we discern an ungodly thought in our mind do we recognize it and say I will not do that because it does not honor and glorify Jesus Christ? How often do we leave a kind word unsaid, a helpful hand undone, or other ways to honor and glorify Jesus Christ because of our denials or rejections of God’s leading? I can tell you this, when a person is neglectful and complacent in the study of God’s Word and meditating on things of God, they will be worthless at living in such a way that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ for there is no ability for discernment.