A plan gone awry

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;  24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.  25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.  26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?  27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.  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.  29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.  30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? (Genesis 37:23-30)

     Joseph’s brothers didn’t anticipate someone else finding Joseph and selling him.   In a strange twist of irony, they didn’t get anything for Joseph.  Joseph’s brothers sinned greatly and profited nothing.  All of a sudden Reuben (the oldest), realized that they had made a huge mistake.  Unfortunately though as we will soon learn, they didn’t respond well, but rather sinned further.  This is often the case; in the process of hiding sin, people often sin further.