Joseph’s brethren purposed to kill him, but were finally content to sell him as a slave, to prevent his becoming greater than themselves. They thought they had placed him where they would be no more troubled with his dreams, and where there would not be a possibility of their fulfillment. But the very course which they pursued, God overruled to bring about that which they designed never should take place—that he should have dominion over them. {1SP 158.1}

Josefs brødre besluttede at dræbe ham, men nøjedes til sidst med at sælge ham som en slave, for at han ikke skulle blive større end de. De mente at de havde fået ham hen på et sted hvor de ikke mere ville blive besværede med hans drømme, og hvor det var umuligt at de kunne blive opfyldte. Men Gud styrede følgerne af denne fremgangsmåde således, at den blev et middel til at fremføre det, som de besluttede at den skulle forhindre – at han skulle herske over dem.