They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.”

Genesis 37:19

Many people discount the ideas of conspiracy theories, but in recent years, some conspiracies have proven true. In the story of Joseph it is undeniable that his brothers conspired against him. 

They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.  Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”

Genesis 37:18-20

The account of these events make it clear that the brothers had an intense hatred for Joseph and they couldn’t event speak a civil word to him. (v. 4) Now, notice the sarcasm in Joseph’s new nickname “dreamer.” And in the very next line, they state their intentions on murder and cover-up of their actions. 

Psychologist Irving Janis coined the term, group think, as a collective state of mind occurring “when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment.” Sounds like an appropriate assessment of the situation, doesn’t it? How many other ideas are the result of group think?

Fortunately, calmer heads prevailed as Reuben (v 21-22) made sure the younger Joseph wasn’t killed and was placed in a dry pit, safe and sound (for the moment). What could have been disastrous for everyone involved was redeemed at least at a basic level, allowing for the hope of Joseph’s dreams.

Is there any situation where we could be caught up in going along with something we know is wrong, even as adults? Could peer pressure and irrational thinking get the best of us? It’s something to consider.