Genesis
chapter 43 begins with Jacob and his sons consuming the last of their
grain they had brought from Egypt. Jacob tells them, “Go
back and buy a little more food“.
Notice, it is only when they have used all of their resources that
they consider returning to the provider. Even though Simeon is in
prison the whole time, they wait until there is no other option.
This is precisely how we usually come to repentance before God in our
lives. Proverbs 15:33 reminds us, “Before
honor comes humility”
and 1 Peter 5:6 instructs, “Humble
yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you at the proper time“.
People ask why God allows bad things to happen, but it is only in
our trials that we are humble enough to seek God’s abundance.
After
Judah reminds Jacob that they can not return without Benjamin, Jacob
still resists. But Judah gives his personal guarantee that he will
return the boy. Jacob instructs them to, “Take
some of the best products of the land”
as gifts and “Take
double the amount of silver“.
Jacob then asks for God’s protection for the mission. Another
stinging reminder of how we often pray as an afterthought. We then
read that Joseph invites his brothers to eat with him , but they fear
they will be taken as slaves. When they speak to Joseph’s steward,
he reassures them, “Don’t
be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you the
treasure in your sacks. I received your silver“.
Then he bought Simeon out to them. When Joseph sees Benjamin, “his
own mother’s son“,
he is moved to tears and has to rush out of the room. What an
amazing picture! The brothers are filled with fear and hesitation,
yet the comforter brings them before the Lord. And it is the Lord
that is greatly moved. The Holy spirit leads us to salvation and
while we are scared that God is ready to punish us for all our wrong,
all of heaven rejoices at our reunion with our Savior. Don’t
hesitate, there is a great feast awaiting you too!
Interestingly,
we read that Joseph does not eat with his brothers nor do any of the
Egyptians. “Egyptians
could not eat with the Hebrews for this is detestable for Egyptians“.
Looking ahead, God will separate the children of Israel into a
fiercely racist society where they will multiply greatly, yet not
intermarry with the Gentiles. God is preserving the Jewish people
from being corrupted by the Canaanite idolatry. The chapter ends
with the brothers feasting and it is noted, “Benjamin’s
portion was five times as great as anyone else’s“.
Perhaps Joseph is testing to see if his brothers have truly
repented? How will they react when faced with an old temptation?
There is so much at the feast no one seems to notice, and that is
exactly what happens to us when we grasp the bountiful gift of God’s
grace. We have so much to be thankful for that we don’t notice the
portions of God’s gifts. Romans 6:26 declares, “For
the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus“.
Amen.