Psalms 105:17
he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 105:17
he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just state Joseph was sold, but emphasizes that God sent him, highlighting that even the darkest human actions, like Joseph's sale, were woven into God's providential plan to preserve His people. This reveals a profound truth: human wickedness can be a tool in God's hands to achieve His sovereign purposes.
The psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to His covenant, focusing on the story of Joseph. Before a severe famine struck, God providentially sent Joseph to Egypt, even though his own brothers sold him into slavery. This sets the stage for how God preserved Jacob's family during the hardship, ultimately fulfilling His promises.
Ever feel like life's most painful moments are just random misfortunes? This verse flips that idea on its head.
Psalm 105:17 tells us, 'He sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.' Notice the 'He' at the start. This isn't just a historical account of Joseph's life; it's a declaration about God's sovereignty.
Divine Direction, Human Action
Joseph's story is one of betrayal and hardship. But was it just pain for pain's sake?
The verse mentions Joseph 'who was sold as a slave.' This wasn't a minor inconvenience; it was a life-altering catastrophe. From a slave to a prisoner, Joseph endured immense suffering.
The Purpose in the Pain
Understand the original words
'ish · Hebrew Noun
In the biblical context, an individual is often chosen by God to fulfill a specific role in His redemptive history, functioning as a bridge between God's promise and its fulfillment.
'ebed · Hebrew Noun
A condition of being owned by another, used in Scripture to describe social bondage, but also metaphorically to describe the state of being owned by God (servitude) or by sin.
This Psalm highlights how God's sovereign hand was present even in the cruel act of Joseph's betrayal and enslavement, demonstrating His ability to bring good out of the darkest human deeds and to prepare the way for His people's survival.
c. 1745 BC— this verse
Joseph is sold into slavery
Joseph's jealous brothers sell him to Ishmaelites, who in turn sell him to Potiphar in Egypt. This event, though appearing as a tragic human act, is seen through the lens of the Psalm as divinely orchestrated.
c. 1745-1736 BC
Joseph endures hardship in Egypt
Joseph faces false accusation and imprisonment in Egypt, enduring significant suffering and testing before his eventual rise to power.
c. 1736 BC
Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams
Joseph accurately interprets Pharaoh's dreams, foretelling a great famine, which leads to his release from prison and appointment as ruler over Egypt.
c. 1736-1730 BC
The famine grips the land
A severe famine, as Joseph foretold, devastates the region, including Canaan, forcing Jacob's family to seek food in Egypt.
This passage is Joseph himself explaining that his sale into slavery was orchestrated by God to preserve their families, echoing the Psalmist's theme of divine providence behind human actions.
Genesis 37:28This verse directly describes Joseph being sold for twenty pieces of silver, providing the historical context for the Psalmist's statement and highlighting the betrayal he endured.
Romans 8:28This New Testament passage offers a profound parallel, assuring believers that God works all things for good for those He loves, much like the Psalmist shows God using Joseph's suffering for a greater purpose.
Philippians 2:7-8This passage speaks of Christ humbling himself and becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross, reflecting Joseph's unjust suffering and eventual exaltation as a foreshadowing of Christ's work.
pulpitPsalms 105:17: "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:"
Verse 17. - He sent a man before them, even Joseph. This is the real sense, though it is not fully expressed in the Hebrew. On the providential sending of Joseph into Egypt, see his own words, "God did send me before you, to preserve life" (Genesis 45:5). Who was sold for a servant (comp. Genesis 33:28, 36; Genesis 39:1).
ellicottPsalms 105:17: "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:"
(17) Repeats Joseph’s own explanation, twice given, of the ways of Providence in his life ( Genesis 45:5 ; Genesis 1:20 ).
The verse doesn't just state Joseph was sold, but emphasizes that God sent him, highlighting that even the darkest human actions, like Joseph's sale, were woven into God's providential plan to preserve His people. This reveals a profound truth: human wickedness can be a tool in God's hands to achieve His sovereign purposes.
The psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to His covenant, focusing on the story of Joseph. Before a severe famine struck, God providentially sent Joseph to Egypt, even though his own brothers sold him into slavery. This sets the stage for how God preserved Jacob's family during the hardship, ultimately fulfilling His promises.
The psalm is recounting God's faithfulness to His covenant, focusing on the story of Joseph. Before a severe famine struck, God providentially sent Joseph to Egypt, even though his own brothers sold him into slavery. This sets the stage for how God preserved Jacob's family during the hardship, ultimately fulfilling His promises.
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This shows us that God can use our deepest wounds and hardest trials not just to build endurance, but to equip us for a specific purpose He has in mind.
c. 1730 BC
Jacob's family travels to Egypt
Driven by famine, Jacob leads his family to Egypt, where they are reunited with Joseph, who had prepared for their arrival.
"he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave." — The verse doesn't just state Joseph was sold, but emphasizes that God sent him, highlighting that even the darkest human actions, like Joseph's sale, were woven into God's providential plan to pres…