Genesis 43:1 says, And the famine was sore in the land. Jacob's sons came back with some corn, but it wasn't enough to last through the whole draught. Verse two states, And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. After the corn was gone, Jacob ordered his sons to go to Egypt again and buy more. They had already been accused of being spies and hadn't returned to get Simeon out of confinement. Jacob evidently wasn't very concerned about their safety. As followers of Christ, we cannot put others at risk to meet our own needs, especially if we have refused to deal with the problem ourself. Jacob could have sent his sons back with Benjamin and have avoided this problem. Verse three declares, And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Judah spoke up, saying that the man had already said he wouldn't see them if Benjamin wasn't with them. Sometimes even if we know the facts, we may need someone to remind us of them especially if the facts are not what we want to accept. Verse four adds, If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: Then verse five concludes, But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Judah told his father, called Israel again now, that if Benjamin didn't go, the rest of them weren't going. I believe that we should never favor one child or other Christian over another, especially if doing so puts others in danger. Verse six declares, And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? Israel accused his sons of treating him unfairly by telling the man, Joseph, that they had another brother. What he didn't realize was that Joseph already knew this and lying to him would have definitely caused problems. We likewise cannot lie to others simply because it would seem better to us, and we certainly cannot afford to attempt to lie to God. Israel was basically saying that they should have lied to protect Benjamin. Verse seven states, And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? The brothers said that the way that the man asked them the question lead them to believe that they had better tell the truth. They also said that they had no reason to believe that the man would ask them to return with Benjamin. Hopefully, we will never have to apologize to anyone for telling the truth, especially to someone who is supposed to believe in God, as Israel was supposed to. Verse eight adds, And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. Judah was the spokesman again, and he said send Benjamin with him, and they wouldn't die, as they all would without food, even the small children. Verse nine continues, I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: Judah offered to take the blame forever if he didn't return with Benjamin. We really cannot offer ourselves for the redemption of others, but we should be willing to do all that we can to bring others to salvation through Christ. Without coming to this saving grace of God, they will starve spiritually just as Israel and his family were starving physically. Verse ten concludes, For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. Judah said had they not lingered they would have already returned to Egypt. People today too often linger when they could have already accepted salvation. Verse eleven says, And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: Israel said if they had to do this, then do it. He also said they should take gifts, which were food items, which is rather strange due to the famine. Verse twelve adds, And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: Israel also said that they should take double the money in case having their money returned the first time was a mistake. We cannot buy salvation, no matter how much we may offer God, but like with these brothers our attitude is what is important. Verse thirteen continues, Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: Israel finally told them to take Benjamin and go. Think of all the trouble Israel could have avoided if they had simply done what they had promised to do to start with. When we make a promise to God, as they did to Joseph, we are much better off to simply fulfill the promise instead of attempting to find a way out of it. Verse fourteen concludes, And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. Israel, a man that God had promised so much to, now remembers to rely on God. This should have been his first action, as it should be ours in times of trouble and even at all times. Verse fifteen declares, And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. The brothers took the money, gifts and Benjamin and returned to Egypt. They may have had concerns about how they would be received, but they went. We never have to have any concerns when we go to, or even return to Christ. He will always welcome us with open arms and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment