Joseph’s brothers were so wounded by their father’s favoritism that they wanted to kill their younger brother. It was only because of Reuben – the oldest brother who probably felt some sort of responsibility – that the brothers backed off their plan and threw Joseph into a pit instead.

But a new opportunity presented itself. When Judah saw a caravan of traders approaching, he asked his brothers what they would gain by killing Joseph. Instead, they chose to make a few bucks off their brother and sold him to the Midianites.

Sin was wreaking havoc in yet another generation of this family, but there was a way to break the chain. God worked in Joseph, and later his brothers, to change them. Sin is inherited and many sins are learned behaviors. But God’s grace and mercy made known to us in the Gospel is greater. Christ has crushed sin under His heel, and in doing so, He has freed us from its power in our lives.

• What sins do you feel enslaved to? What do you need to repent of and trust in Christ for deliverance?