The Pain of Betrayal

Scripture: Genesis 37:25 – “Then they sat down to eat a meal.”

Devotional: The brothers threw Joseph into the pit, and then they sat down to eat. No remorse. No regret. No second thoughts. Just a meal shared together, while their younger brother lay helpless below. The contrast is stark—one suffering, the others indifferent.
Have you ever felt the sting of betrayal? The pain of realizing that people you thought you could trust have moved on while you’re left broken? Joseph, at the bottom of the pit, must have felt shock, confusion, and deep hurt. “How could they do this to me?” Perhaps you’ve asked the same question about someone in your life.
Betrayal is one of the deepest wounds because it comes from those closest to us. Jesus Himself experienced it—Judas, one of His twelve disciples, shared a meal with Him before selling Him out for thirty pieces of silver. The pain of betrayal is real, but so is God’s purpose in it.
When we feel abandoned, God is still present. Even in the pit, Joseph was not alone. God was at work, preparing a way forward. Our response in moments of betrayal determines whether we remain bitter or allow God to refine us.
Joseph could have let the pit define him, but instead, he allowed it to shape him. He learned humility, reliance on God, and eventually, he would learn to forgive. God can use even our deepest wounds to shape us for His greater purpose.

Prayer: Father, betrayal hurts, and sometimes it feels impossible to move forward. But I know You are with me, even in the pit. Help me to trust You when I feel abandoned. Strengthen my heart to forgive and keep my eyes on Your greater plan. Turn my pain into purpose, just as You did with Joseph. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:
 1. Have you ever felt abandoned by those closest to you? How did it affect your faith?
 2. How can you choose to trust God even when you don’t understand why you were hurt?
 3. Is there someone you need to forgive today, even if they have not apologized?