My assumption is normal people don’t want to be villains in real life. So how do ordinary people become the villain (The Bad Guy) of their story? How does one become the villain in their
marriage? In their school or workplace or neighborhood?

[Genesis 37:18-28]

18  When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.  19  “Here comes the dreamer!” they said.  20  “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” 21  But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said.  22  “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. 23  So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful
robe he was wearing.  24  Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.  25  Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt. 26  Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.  27  Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed.  28  So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.

The truth is some of us are just ONE decision a way from becoming the villain of our story.

The first choice that transformed these normal brothers into villains….

1. They responded poorly to unfair circumstances.

[Genesis 37:3-4]

“Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.  4  But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.”

[Genesis 29:31]

“When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive.”

Jealousy is a cancer that eats away at our soul.

[Proverbs 3:5-6]

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

[Psalm 28:7]

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Allow unfair circumstances to strengthen your character and paved the way for your future purpose.

The second choice that transformed these normal brothers into
villains….

2. They allowed the flaws of others to fuel your negative attitude.

[Genesis 37:5-11]

5  One-night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.  6  “Listen to this dream,” he said.  7  “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” 8  His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 9  Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his
brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” 10  This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his
brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”  11  But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant. 
There’s no account of him receiving instruction from God to
share his dream with his brothers. This shows a little
immaturity/pride on Joseph’s part.

[1 Peter 3:9]

“ Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you, his blessing.”

[Colossians 3:13]

“Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Villains always see the worst in people.

The third choice that transformed these normal brothers into
villains….

3. They made emotional and rash decisions.

[Genesis 37:18-19]

8  When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.  19  “Here comes the dreamer!” they said.  20  “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

[Ephesians 4:31-32]

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil
behavior.    Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Villains make decisions that only benefit themself even if it hurts others.

The fourth choice that transformed these normal brothers into villains….

4. They lived in fear and regret.

[Genesis 50:14-21]

After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial.  15  But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said. 16  So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us  17  to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.  18  Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. 19  But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?  20  You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.  21  No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” 

[1 John 1:9]

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

[Romans 8:15]

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba,
Father.”

Ask yourself these questions:
• What is God trying to teach me through this regret?
• What could I do differently next time?
• How can I help or prevent someone else from having a
similar experience?
• If there are things I can do differently in the future, how can
I prepare myself for them?

Unresolved pain, bitterness and anger imprison us in the role
of a villain – God wants to set you free!

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Application Questions

1. 1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
   2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
   3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
   4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in your relationships?