Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
Genesis 37:26-27 NIV
When Joseph’s brothers threw him into a cistern, their hearts were already set on murder. Yet, as they sat down to eat, something shifted. In that moment of dark deliberation, Judah, one of the brothers, posed a question that would alter the course of events: “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?”
Judah’s words are striking. They reveal a deeper motive beyond mere hatred—there was a pursuit of gain. The brothers’ decision to sell Joseph was not born out of mercy but a desire for profit. In that moment, money mattered more than morality.
This question—“What will we gain?”—echoes far beyond that ancient scene. It challenges us to consider a sobering truth: the enemy, too, is after gain. Satan does not attack without purpose. His pursuit of believers is strategic, fuelled by what he hopes to gain from every fall, compromise, or defeat.
While the devil knows he receives no reward from God, he thrives on stealing, killing, and destroying (John 10:10). There is a perverse satisfaction he derives from separating souls from their Maker, from silencing dreams, and from sowing division. Just as Joseph’s brothers found temporary satisfaction in silver coins, the enemy delights in small victories over God’s people.
This calls for spiritual vigilance. When Judah asked, “What’s in it for us?”, it exposed a dangerous love for gain that blurred moral lines. Likewise, when our hearts are misaligned, worldly profit can take precedence over righteousness. We must never forget that compromise often begins with a subtle calculation of benefit.
Yet, amid betrayal and evil schemes, we find a greater truth: God’s purposes are never derailed by human actions. Despite their intentions, Joseph’s brothers unwittingly became instruments in God’s divine plan. God did not allow them to kill Joseph because His purpose for Joseph’s life had to prevail. What they meant for harm, God turned into a pathway for destiny (Genesis 50:20).
This truth anchors us. Even when it seems the enemy is gaining ground, God remains sovereign. His hand weaves redemption into our pain, strategy into our setbacks, and purpose into our trials.
As believers, we must not take our spiritual battles lightly. It is not enough to passively observe and say, “Let’s see what becomes of the dream.” We must discern both the enemy’s schemes and God’s intentions. In every conflict, there is a spiritual exchange taking place—either the enemy gains ground, or the Kingdom of God advances through us.
So, let us stay spiritually awake and deeply rooted in Christ. May we be a people who live not for worldly gain, but for God’s glory. And when the enemy comes knocking, may we boldly ask: “What does he stand to gain here—and what has God already purposed?”
In the end, only one gain will last. Let it be the gain of souls, the fulfilment of purpose, and the glorification of our Saviour through every chapter of our lives.