We see the characteristics of a true Christian through Joseph. Among the characteristics, a prominent characteristic of a Christian is forgiveness. One of the greatest acts of Joseph is forgiving the brothers who tried to kill him. Forgiveness makes one’s life complete. One who can forgive his or her enemy is a completely mature person. Another characteristic discovered through Joseph is love. The gospel is love. I pray that you would become like Joseph and be a forgiving and a loving person. What kind of love did Joseph have? We all love; we love our brothers, we love our parents, and we love our country. We want to love. However, our love has many tensions. We love when we feel good. When others are good to us, we are good to them. However, when others are bad to us, we are not good to them. Many spouses love similarly. If the spouse is not good to the other spouse, they get a divorce. This is the love of the modern spouses. We have so many conditions to love. Because our love is conditional, love creates tensions and limitation. We are touched by Joseph’s love. Loving the brothers from another mother is not easy. They tried to kill him and sent him as a slave to Egypt. However, Joseph loved and forgave his half brothers. The Bible does not say that Joseph struggled in loving his brothers. Joseph loved his brothers without a doubt even though Joseph was not in the situation to love his brothers. No one would think badly of Joseph for hating his brothers. However, he loved them and we are shocked by Joseph’s love. We must not ignore the message of Joseph’s love for the love has power. A pastor wrote: “My love as a pastor is fake. I am patient. I try to love. At times I succeed, other times I fail. Because I’m a pastor, I do not outwardly reveal. On the outside, I seem to be victorious. However, it is the not reality. I am a disgraceful pastor.” It is the same for me. This is the love humans have. However, God is not human. Joseph’s love was like the love of God. Joseph’s love is shocking because the love was unconditional. Joseph did not love his brothers because they were good to him. Joseph was hated by his brothers and his brothers were envious of him. The brothers hated Joseph to a point to sell him off as a slave. Still, Joseph did not have bad feelings toward his brothers. Even when he was sold off, even when he was in jail, Joseph never had a bitter feeling towards his brothers. The Bible does not record a single complaint of Joseph to his brothers. Instead, Joseph missed his brothers.
When Joseph met his brothers for the first time in 20 years, he wanted to call them, “brothers” instead of overpowering his brothers with his authority. However, because he had a greater purpose, Joseph did not reveal his identity. So Joseph, with overwhelmed emotions, turn and secretly wept.
Joseph was a person of love. This love is the love of Jesus and the love of God. Being good to those who are good to me-this is not love. Getting mad at those who get mad at me-this is not love. Love those who do not do good to you, those who make you made, and make you face a loss; this is true love. I desire this love. I hope we would grow this love inside us. We must be able to love and pray for even those who have harmed us. This was Joseph’s love. Luke 10 tells a parable: A person fell into the hands of robbers and he was about to die. A Levite and the priest just passed him by. However, a Samaritan saw him and saved him. The Samaritan was able to care for the man because of love. The Samaritan did not ask who the man was. The Samaritan was not interested in who the person was but the fact that he was harmed by the thief; the Samaritan was not interested in the compensation for being good to the man. People often times love more depending on who the person is. However, God loves us all. God does not calculate love with us. I hope you do not calculate love or love based on who the person is. The Samaritan was able to help the man who fell into the hands of the thief because the Samaritan did not calculate the loss and benefit for helping the man. The Samaritan did not wonder whether he would be paid or gain anything for helping the man. The Samaritan simply helped because the man needed the help. If the enemy needs help, we must be able to nurse the enemy. The Samaritan continued to show love to the man. The Samaritan did not help the man only in the scene but the Samaritan took the man to an inn and took out two silver coins, gave them to the innkeeper, asked to look after the man, and said that extra expense would be reimbursed. The Samaritan’s love is similar to the love of Jesus, and to the love of Joseph. I hope we would stop calculating the gains and loss before helping others. God wants love that sacrifices. Romans 5:5 says, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us”. The Holy Spirit fills our heart with love. We cannot do it by our own strength. The Holy Spirit must fill us with the true love; this is the only way we can love unconditionally. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you love. The first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. Love completes the law. Jesus’ greatest message was “love the neighbors as yourself”. Pray to God so your neighbors would be blessed. Pray so that you would be able to truly love. God must overflow you with love for you to love without calculations. Remember Jesus’ love. Do not love by your own methods and with your own emotions and feelings. The love will fail. Be determined to love like God loves. Love without conditions and despite their actions towards you.
Joseph in today’s passage tricks his brothers with a great purpose. The brothers persuaded their father to sending the youngest Benjamin to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph treated them with a feast and with grains they were about to head home. Joseph put a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. It is written in verses 4 and 5: 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, "Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil? 5 Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.' "
Joseph’s plan led his brothers to become mature. The brothers who always complained to their father now loved their father deeply. They made efforts so their father did not get hurt. The brothers who were jealous of one another now tried to help and encourage one another. We can see that the brothers tried to protect Benjamin. It is written in verses 7-9: 7 But they said to him, "Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house? 9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves."
In verse 11, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers did not do anything wrong. However, they could not think of an explanation. Have you ever experienced a similar situation? An unjust situation where there were no ways you could justify yourself. The brothers could only give up now. There was no one to help him. The brothers were in a completely different circumstance than the circumstances they were in 20 years ago. I hope you are different now from 20 years ago. Some people do not want to change because of pride. However, faith makes you change. Personality is the frame of faith. No matter how much you try to put in a new picture, if the frame does not change, only the old pictures would be able to fit in. Verse 16 says, “"What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.” Even though they have not sinned, Judah said “we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup”. The brothers truly changed. They used to only think of oneself. They said that they would equally receive the punishment. Verse 17 says, “But Joseph said, ‘Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave.” Joseph declined Judah’s request. Judah could go home and say to his father, “I have tried my best but there was nothing I could do.” However, Judah continuously made a request to Joseph. Verse 18 says, “Then Judah went up to him and said: "Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.” From verse 18-34, Judah continued to make an appeal to Joseph. In summery Judah said, “You have asked us to bring the brother my father loves the most. So we persuaded our father to send us his son. Now this has happened to Benjamin and how can we go back home and see our father without him?” Judah thought of his elderly father. He did not think of a way to survive first. I hope you have the same attitude towards your father. Think of your weak and elderly father. When we were young we followed the powerful father. However, when our fathers are old, we can obey or disobey him. Judah thought of his father. He said that he would rather die than to disappoint his father. God raised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the ancestor of faith, and Jacob’s 12 sons were raised as the 12 tribes of Israel. However, up to chapter 42 of Genesis, Jacob’s sons were pitiful. They slept with the wife of their father and they even murdered. God still used them to raise Israel. Now the sons were starting to change. God was waiting for this moment.
I believe we can change. We may have lived by our own methods in the past. But God does not give up on us just as He led the 12 pitiful sons to become the tribes of Israel.
I believe that you can become God’s tools despite your past. Even though you have made a mistake and was immature in the past, God revives you little by little. This is the message we need to receive through the brothers. Judah continued to make an appeal in verses 32-33: 32 Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' 33 "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.
Judah says that he cannot hurt his father once again. So he made an appeal to be taken as a slave so Benjamin could return home. Judah’s appeal by risking his life made Joseph reveal himself. This is the secret to prayer. We try to pray without facing a loss. However, the prayer has no power. True prayer is praying with your life. Abraham truly prayed. Abraham’s prayer interfered God who was about to bring judgment upon Sodom. We must have this cry of desperation in our prayer. Real prayer is holding unto the cross and dying on the cross. This prayer saves the nation, church, and family. I pray that your true love and prayer would be blessed. Remember Joseph’s unconditional love and characteristics. Remember Judah’s prayer. Then we will change and become a proper Christian.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Nov 15 (Genesis 43) Deeper Faith and Greater Grace
Long time passed since Joseph’s brothers returned from Egypt. The food they brought from Egypt was reaching its bottom. Livestock probably died out of hunger. Jacob was filled with pain by the destructive sight. Jacob’s sons knew they had to go back to Egypt for more food. However, they could not bring up the subject. Instead, the father brought up the subject.
It is written in verses 1-5: 1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” 3 But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
Judah represented his brothers and repeatedly told their father that they must bring Benjamin to Egypt in order buy more food. The brothers were in dilemma. If the brothers did nothing, they would starve to death. If they went to Egypt without Benjamin, they would be killed by the second-in-command. What would you do in this situation?
It is written in verse 6: 6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”
The father held a grudge against his sons for telling the truth. What an absurd father! He passed his responsibilities on his sons and when problem arose, he blamed them. The sons replied to their father in verse 7.
7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?
The brothers told their father that they would not have told the truth if they knew the intentions for asking the questions. The brothers probably were frustrated too. There was nothing they could do. An important message here is this: God’s providence is there when unintended circumstances arise. Do not hold a grudge on your neighbors when unexpected circumstances arise. God is at work.
Verse 8 says, “Then Judah said to Israel his father, ‘Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.’” Judah made a decision for they did not have much time.
It is written in verses 9-10: 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”
We discover Judah’s sacrifice and determination. He promised to be responsible for Benjamin; if Benjamin was harmed, Judah will carry the blame for the rest of his life. Just as Jesus’ sacrifice saved humanity, Judah’s sacrifice resulted in the happiness in the family. Judah surely changed. Judah suggested selling Joseph as a slave instead of killing him. We were able to glance at Judah’s loyal side. However, he was not able to demonstrate complete loyalty; he sold his brother and took the money. He prevented Joseph’s death, but at the same time, he played the lead role in selling Joseph as a slave. However, in the end, Judah was rewarded with blessings because of his sacrifice. 1 Chronicles 5:2 says, “and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)” Even though Joseph had the rights of the firstborn, Judah became the highest among his brothers and was blessed with the throne. Instead of becoming the leader among the family, he became the leader of a nation. Through Judah, David was born, and in the future, Jesus was born. Genesis 49 says that Judah will be praised by his brothers and that the ruler’s staff will not depart from him. Judah’s sacrifice to guarantee the safety of Benjamin led to a great blessing. For this reason, I think God is pleased when we guarantee our life to God. I pray that you would sacrifice your body, your heart, and your soul to God.
Let’s take a closer look at the attitude of Jacob. Jacob had to depend his son Benjamin to his sons.
Verse 11 says, “Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift— a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.”
Jacob’s way of survival was bribery. Whenever circumstances swift Jacob to meet someone, he always took a bribe with him. He did so when he had to meet his brother; he took 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 female sheep, 20 male sheep, 30 camels, their offspring, 40 female cow, 10 male cow, 20 female donkey, and 10 calves to his brother. Bribery was Jacob’s conduct of life. In other words, Jacob was accustomed to the way of worldly life.
Verse 12 says, “Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.”
Not only did Jacob send them silver they were returned but he told them to take double the amount of silver. Instead of depending on God, he used worldly methods. Immediately living by God’s method is difficult after living many years by the world’s method. It is understandable. However, this behavior becomes the barrier in fulfilling God’s will and living the life of faith. We must get down on our knees and pray that we would change. We will not experience the work of God if we continue to live our life by worldly methods. Verse 13 says, “Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.” Jacob eventually gave bribes and his son Benjamin. Sending Benjamin away was a great determination for Jacob that gave him tears. In the perspective of salvation theology, giving up brings salvation. Many people still have not accepted Christ or have a misty faith because they do not give up and sacrifice clearly and definitely. Giving up is difficult. Giving up the life of the past is especially difficult. However, faith is giving up. One must give up in order to gain. To pick one woman to marry means to give up the rest of the woman on earth. If you still have an eye on another woman, then you bring destruction to the family. How can you make a choice and gain without giving up? We commonly try to hold onto both God and the world. However, this worldly thought makes us lose both. People suffer living a sinful life of the world, but they cannot entirely give up the world. They will not be able to gain anything. What happened to Jacob who forcefully gave up his goods and his son? Jacob discovered God. Then he finally gained emotional freedom. It is written in verses 14-15: 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” 15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
Jacob finally began to pray. He finally says that the God Almighty wants to grant them grace. Jacob learned to pray when he gave up Benjamin. The statement coming out of Jacob’s mouth is unimaginable, “If I am bereaved, I am bereaved”. Jacob was entrusting Benjamin on God; he was confessing the fact that he cannot determine to kill or save Benjamin. Queen Esther made the same confession and prayer. She trusted God and the faith saved God’s people. It is written in verses 16-17: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
Queen Esther made the same confession and prayer. She trusted God and the faith saved God’s people. It is written in verses 16-17: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
Unimaginable events were occurring. Joseph saw Benjamin. If the brothers did not bring Benjamin with them, he had to send his brothers to jail. Joseph was so happy, he ordered feast for his brothers. However, the invitation brought fear to his brothers. It is written in Genesis 43:17-18: 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph's house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house.
They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.” The sinners are always filled with fear whether they are greeted with good or bad news because they fear their sins have been revealed. The innocent are upright. I pray that you would be one of the people who are upright. I hope you would have freedom rather than the heart of fear and uncertainty. The brothers did not know Joseph was the second-in-command. Joseph knew his brothers did not steal the money. If the brothers did not steal the money, they had to be upright, but they were uncomfortable in the situation because of the sins they committed in the past. Human’s nature is fear and uncertainty. Fear of death and future. Verse 18 teaches us that if we do not depend on God, we will be in fear. When we are anxious, we have ominous imagination. In verse 18, the brothers react with fear. The brothers thought they were being taken away for stealing the money. They go further and think they will be seized and taken as slaves. Misfortune is not given but created by oneself. Negative thoughts block one’s own future. Do not have negative thoughts; it is not real. The truth is you did not depend on God. Depend on God and your future will brighten up and be blessed. Joseph’s brothers were in fear and confessed that they did not steal the money. It is written in verses 19-23: 19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “Please, sir,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” 23 “It's all right,” he said. “Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
Suffering brings truth out of people. Adverse circumstances make people innocent. Joseph’s brothers in the past murdered, they were jealous, and they argued. However, when they faced death, they confessed the truth. When we are progressing favorably and are at peace, we do not confess our sins. In the other hand, when people encounter circumstances that are difficult to resolve with their own hands, they become honest. They reveal their weakness. This is the reason for suffering and trials. God is interest in making us honest, righteous, and clean. God works with us through trials and sufferings. In those moments, we become honest and speak the truth. The problem of Christians today is superficial faith. They live by their own desires as they simply come to church without much meaning and lightly believe in Christ. True and deep confession is important.
Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” Why did God make 600,000 Israelites suffer for 40 years instead of leading them to the Promised Land flowing with honey directly? God had 2 purposes. First, God wanted to make them humble through their sufferings. Second, God wanted to teach them obedience; God wanted to test their obedience. Test is not bad. We must be tested so we can reach the next level. God tested us so we can take another step forward in our faith. Making us prosper and healthy is easy for God; God does not make us suffer because He is not capable. God wants us to be humble and obey.
23 “It's all right,” he said. “Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys.
This is the blessing as a result of humbleness and obedience. The second-in-command told them that the money was theirs and not to fear. God compensates us for our honesty. God gave them the money, returned Simeon to them, and they feet were washed. I pray that we would experience the grace from being humble and obedient.
It is written in verses 1-5: 1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” 3 But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
Judah represented his brothers and repeatedly told their father that they must bring Benjamin to Egypt in order buy more food. The brothers were in dilemma. If the brothers did nothing, they would starve to death. If they went to Egypt without Benjamin, they would be killed by the second-in-command. What would you do in this situation?
It is written in verse 6: 6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”
The father held a grudge against his sons for telling the truth. What an absurd father! He passed his responsibilities on his sons and when problem arose, he blamed them. The sons replied to their father in verse 7.
7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?
The brothers told their father that they would not have told the truth if they knew the intentions for asking the questions. The brothers probably were frustrated too. There was nothing they could do. An important message here is this: God’s providence is there when unintended circumstances arise. Do not hold a grudge on your neighbors when unexpected circumstances arise. God is at work.
Verse 8 says, “Then Judah said to Israel his father, ‘Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.’” Judah made a decision for they did not have much time.
It is written in verses 9-10: 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”
We discover Judah’s sacrifice and determination. He promised to be responsible for Benjamin; if Benjamin was harmed, Judah will carry the blame for the rest of his life. Just as Jesus’ sacrifice saved humanity, Judah’s sacrifice resulted in the happiness in the family. Judah surely changed. Judah suggested selling Joseph as a slave instead of killing him. We were able to glance at Judah’s loyal side. However, he was not able to demonstrate complete loyalty; he sold his brother and took the money. He prevented Joseph’s death, but at the same time, he played the lead role in selling Joseph as a slave. However, in the end, Judah was rewarded with blessings because of his sacrifice. 1 Chronicles 5:2 says, “and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)” Even though Joseph had the rights of the firstborn, Judah became the highest among his brothers and was blessed with the throne. Instead of becoming the leader among the family, he became the leader of a nation. Through Judah, David was born, and in the future, Jesus was born. Genesis 49 says that Judah will be praised by his brothers and that the ruler’s staff will not depart from him. Judah’s sacrifice to guarantee the safety of Benjamin led to a great blessing. For this reason, I think God is pleased when we guarantee our life to God. I pray that you would sacrifice your body, your heart, and your soul to God.
Let’s take a closer look at the attitude of Jacob. Jacob had to depend his son Benjamin to his sons.
Verse 11 says, “Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift— a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.”
Jacob’s way of survival was bribery. Whenever circumstances swift Jacob to meet someone, he always took a bribe with him. He did so when he had to meet his brother; he took 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 female sheep, 20 male sheep, 30 camels, their offspring, 40 female cow, 10 male cow, 20 female donkey, and 10 calves to his brother. Bribery was Jacob’s conduct of life. In other words, Jacob was accustomed to the way of worldly life.
Verse 12 says, “Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.”
Not only did Jacob send them silver they were returned but he told them to take double the amount of silver. Instead of depending on God, he used worldly methods. Immediately living by God’s method is difficult after living many years by the world’s method. It is understandable. However, this behavior becomes the barrier in fulfilling God’s will and living the life of faith. We must get down on our knees and pray that we would change. We will not experience the work of God if we continue to live our life by worldly methods. Verse 13 says, “Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.” Jacob eventually gave bribes and his son Benjamin. Sending Benjamin away was a great determination for Jacob that gave him tears. In the perspective of salvation theology, giving up brings salvation. Many people still have not accepted Christ or have a misty faith because they do not give up and sacrifice clearly and definitely. Giving up is difficult. Giving up the life of the past is especially difficult. However, faith is giving up. One must give up in order to gain. To pick one woman to marry means to give up the rest of the woman on earth. If you still have an eye on another woman, then you bring destruction to the family. How can you make a choice and gain without giving up? We commonly try to hold onto both God and the world. However, this worldly thought makes us lose both. People suffer living a sinful life of the world, but they cannot entirely give up the world. They will not be able to gain anything. What happened to Jacob who forcefully gave up his goods and his son? Jacob discovered God. Then he finally gained emotional freedom. It is written in verses 14-15: 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” 15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
Jacob finally began to pray. He finally says that the God Almighty wants to grant them grace. Jacob learned to pray when he gave up Benjamin. The statement coming out of Jacob’s mouth is unimaginable, “If I am bereaved, I am bereaved”. Jacob was entrusting Benjamin on God; he was confessing the fact that he cannot determine to kill or save Benjamin. Queen Esther made the same confession and prayer. She trusted God and the faith saved God’s people. It is written in verses 16-17: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
Queen Esther made the same confession and prayer. She trusted God and the faith saved God’s people. It is written in verses 16-17: 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.” 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
Unimaginable events were occurring. Joseph saw Benjamin. If the brothers did not bring Benjamin with them, he had to send his brothers to jail. Joseph was so happy, he ordered feast for his brothers. However, the invitation brought fear to his brothers. It is written in Genesis 43:17-18: 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph's house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house.
They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.” The sinners are always filled with fear whether they are greeted with good or bad news because they fear their sins have been revealed. The innocent are upright. I pray that you would be one of the people who are upright. I hope you would have freedom rather than the heart of fear and uncertainty. The brothers did not know Joseph was the second-in-command. Joseph knew his brothers did not steal the money. If the brothers did not steal the money, they had to be upright, but they were uncomfortable in the situation because of the sins they committed in the past. Human’s nature is fear and uncertainty. Fear of death and future. Verse 18 teaches us that if we do not depend on God, we will be in fear. When we are anxious, we have ominous imagination. In verse 18, the brothers react with fear. The brothers thought they were being taken away for stealing the money. They go further and think they will be seized and taken as slaves. Misfortune is not given but created by oneself. Negative thoughts block one’s own future. Do not have negative thoughts; it is not real. The truth is you did not depend on God. Depend on God and your future will brighten up and be blessed. Joseph’s brothers were in fear and confessed that they did not steal the money. It is written in verses 19-23: 19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “Please, sir,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.” 23 “It's all right,” he said. “Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
Suffering brings truth out of people. Adverse circumstances make people innocent. Joseph’s brothers in the past murdered, they were jealous, and they argued. However, when they faced death, they confessed the truth. When we are progressing favorably and are at peace, we do not confess our sins. In the other hand, when people encounter circumstances that are difficult to resolve with their own hands, they become honest. They reveal their weakness. This is the reason for suffering and trials. God is interest in making us honest, righteous, and clean. God works with us through trials and sufferings. In those moments, we become honest and speak the truth. The problem of Christians today is superficial faith. They live by their own desires as they simply come to church without much meaning and lightly believe in Christ. True and deep confession is important.
Deuteronomy 8:2 says, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.” Why did God make 600,000 Israelites suffer for 40 years instead of leading them to the Promised Land flowing with honey directly? God had 2 purposes. First, God wanted to make them humble through their sufferings. Second, God wanted to teach them obedience; God wanted to test their obedience. Test is not bad. We must be tested so we can reach the next level. God tested us so we can take another step forward in our faith. Making us prosper and healthy is easy for God; God does not make us suffer because He is not capable. God wants us to be humble and obey.
23 “It's all right,” he said. “Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys.
This is the blessing as a result of humbleness and obedience. The second-in-command told them that the money was theirs and not to fear. God compensates us for our honesty. God gave them the money, returned Simeon to them, and they feet were washed. I pray that we would experience the grace from being humble and obedient.
Nov 08 (Genesis 42) God-centered Circumstances
Joseph, the man of dreams and the man of faith, finally became the second-in-command at the age of 30. A miracle occurred. Bible calls it grace. I pray that you would experience this grace and miracle.
Thinking of Joseph make us have a higher expectation of our own dream and faith. Joseph faced death at the age of 17 by his own brothers. Overnight, Joseph became an orphan. Then he was accused of a crime by a woman and spent 20 years in jail. How was Joseph able to become the second-in-command in the midst of all these unfortunate circumstances? Why was Joseph blessed?
The reason is not Joseph’s intelligence, but he was blessed because God was with him. When God was with him, his wisdom and intelligence shined and his life was filled with blessings. We must only depend on God. God was pleased with Joseph. Joseph was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was honest in all circumstances and he grew in his dreams.
He did not carelessly accept the dreams given to him by God. Keep the word of God in your heart. You must be touched by God. You will be touched when you read the Bible, when you listen to the sermon, or when you pray. Do not consider being touched by God as a passing event, but keep it in your heart. Learn from Joseph that one day the dream will be fulfilled.
Joseph experienced many changes in his circumstances. However, he never had a bitter feeling towards God. We also experience changes in circumstances; at times we face trials and at times we face a loss. Joseph was blessed when he did not hold a grudge against God even in the difficult moments. God blessed Joseph with intelligence and wisdom because Joseph’s spirit was clear and pure.
Those who are close with God have a clean spirit. I met many elderly people in Korea who were not educated. However, when I talked to them, I was surprised. They spoke with wisdom and intelligence because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. People with clear spirit make the right judgment because God gives them the wisdom the people of the world does not have. This wisdom allowed Joseph to interpret the dreams of the baker, cupbearer, and the Pharaoh. I pray that you would be filled with the intelligence and wisdom from the Holy Spirit.
After becoming the second-in-command, Egypt had seven years of prosperity. Storage was built to store crops over the years of prosperity. Then after the 7 years of prosperity, 7 years of famine followed. The storage was opened and supplied Egyptians with crops. The dangerous famine was not a problem for Joseph. The danger is not a problem to those who pray and are prepared. Disaster greets the unprepared. The famine did not occur only in Egypt. The nearby countries also faced famine; Jacob and his family faced famine in the Promised Land also.
It is written in verse 42:1-2, 1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
The people in the Promised Land ran out of food and had to risk their lives in search for food in the foreign countries. God’s providence begins here through famine-God created an opportunity for Joseph to meet his brothers through famine.
It is written in verses 3-5: 3Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5So Israel's sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
Those who went to Egypt to buy food were the ten brothers who wanted to forget Joseph. However, we later realize that they were not able to forget Joseph. Like Joseph’s brothers, some people drink, do drugs, or have other habits to forget about their guilt.
Jacob was afraid to lose, Joseph’s brother, Benjamin, so he did not send Benjamin to Egypt. We see the fear of the father who lost a son. Jacob was still filled with pain of losing Joseph. It is written in verses 6-7: 6Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” Then brothers came before Joseph and bowed down;
Joseph’s dream at the age of 17 was being fulfilled. Joseph’s brothers did not know the dream was being fulfilled. This is God’s providence and His method. Joseph immediately recognized his brothers. However, his brothers did not recognize him. We see God’s hands at work; he allowed Joseph and his brothers to meet. They did not meet out of coincidence. Joseph’s brothers lived their lives pretending to have forgotten, but their hearts were fixed on the moment when they sold their brother Joseph as a slave. Time had passed, but they were not able to forget. Sin does not go away after a while. Guilt does not fade. One who is not forgiven is filled with fear and pain. Still, the brothers did not try to resolve their sins and search for Joseph. So, God opened an opportunity for them.
There was famine and the brothers headed for Egypt in search for food. Unexpectedly they stood before Joseph. This event cannot be planned by humans; it occurred by God’s interference. Verse 8 says, “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.”
Joseph immediately recognized his brothers. However, he pretended to not know them not because Joseph was angry at them. Joseph already forgave his brothers. Salvation’s secret is hidden in Joseph’s behavior towards his brother. If Joseph spoke up to his brothers, the brothers would not have the chance to repent their mistake.
It is written in verses 9-13: 9Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” 10“No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. 11We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” 12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” 13But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
Joseph called his brothers spies so the brothers would tell the truth. It is written in verses 15-16: 15And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.
The brothers faced a difficult situation. They were in distress because they could not make the request to their father. However, Joseph made that specific request. Joseph sent nine brothers into jail and sent one to bring Benjamin. Then he put them in jail for three days. It is written in verses 18-20: 18On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 20But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
Joseph changed his mind in three days. Instead of nine, he put one in jail and sent the rest with crops back home for the starving households.
Verse 21 says, “They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us.’”
The work of the Holy Spirit is revealed from verse 21. The reason for suffering began to reveal. They thought they were being punished because of Joseph. The more difficult the trials, the more they revealed their sins. This is God’s purpose; this is suffering. The suffering made them remember their sins. I hope you remember the sins you committed in the past. Even though you forgot, I hope you remember and resolve it. Hatred, bitterness, and grudge must be broken. Then God’s blessing will flow and you will bear fruits. The brothers think their current suffering was to compensate for the suffering Joseph faced because of them. They knew the meaning of suffering. God used not just Joseph but the rest of Jacob’s sons to build Israel. God was opening the brothers the chance to repent so they can be lifted up. I hope you would know the meaning of your sufferings. Have you ever harmed others in the past? It is easy for people to be dull towards the harm we bring to others. However, we must remember them. If Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, the brothers would not have repented. They would not be able to deepen their faith. The superficial faith is a problem today. Many people only think of the grace and seek romantic faith. Therefore, they commit sins. Their faith is shallow. The depth of repentance is the depth of faith. Those who shed tears because of their sins do not commit the same sin. Without completely revealing sins, great blessings do not follow. Without repentance, complaining to God becomes easy when experiencing difficult circumstances. David was one of God’s people, but he committed great sins against God. His repentance and suffering is written in Psalm 32:1-4. 1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah
To David, the experience was like bones wasting away. Whenever David committed sins, he felt the heavy hands of God upon him. David is not great because he defeated Goliath, but because of his repentance.
It is written in verses 24-25 in today’s passage: 24He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. 25Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them,
Joseph loved his brothers. He turned away and cried but he dealt with his brothers harshly in front. Joseph seemed scary to his brothers. Joseph put Simeon in jail, but he gave them grains. But that was not his intention.
It is written in verses 26-28: 26they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left. 27At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. 28“My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”
Joseph secretly gave them their silvers back. The brothers discovered the silver on their way back and responded, “What is this that God has done to us?” In their perspective, they could be accused of stealing from Egypt during famine. They began to think clearly. They began to think of all the circumstances God-centered.
In verses 29-34, the brothers explain to their father Jacob all that happened.
It is written in verses 35-38: 35As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 36Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” 37Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.” 38But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
Even though Jacob is one of the ancestors of faith, we see the side of him without spiritual discernment. He was not able to see God’s providence. So he thought everything was against him.
I pray that you would look at all circumstances in the God-centered perspective. Do not look at the circumstances in your own perspective.
If you believe in Jesus Christ and became God’s child, all circumstances are blessed circumstances. If you look at the times you have been wrongly blamed and harmed in God’s perspective, you will be greatly blessed like Joseph. God does not bring ruin to his own people. Look towards the great blessings God will bring. Remember that God will even use your failure to bless you. I pray that we would only look at God’s providence in our lives. There is no coincidence in the lives of Christians. All occur according to God’s plans.
Thinking of Joseph make us have a higher expectation of our own dream and faith. Joseph faced death at the age of 17 by his own brothers. Overnight, Joseph became an orphan. Then he was accused of a crime by a woman and spent 20 years in jail. How was Joseph able to become the second-in-command in the midst of all these unfortunate circumstances? Why was Joseph blessed?
The reason is not Joseph’s intelligence, but he was blessed because God was with him. When God was with him, his wisdom and intelligence shined and his life was filled with blessings. We must only depend on God. God was pleased with Joseph. Joseph was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was honest in all circumstances and he grew in his dreams.
He did not carelessly accept the dreams given to him by God. Keep the word of God in your heart. You must be touched by God. You will be touched when you read the Bible, when you listen to the sermon, or when you pray. Do not consider being touched by God as a passing event, but keep it in your heart. Learn from Joseph that one day the dream will be fulfilled.
Joseph experienced many changes in his circumstances. However, he never had a bitter feeling towards God. We also experience changes in circumstances; at times we face trials and at times we face a loss. Joseph was blessed when he did not hold a grudge against God even in the difficult moments. God blessed Joseph with intelligence and wisdom because Joseph’s spirit was clear and pure.
Those who are close with God have a clean spirit. I met many elderly people in Korea who were not educated. However, when I talked to them, I was surprised. They spoke with wisdom and intelligence because they were filled with the Holy Spirit. People with clear spirit make the right judgment because God gives them the wisdom the people of the world does not have. This wisdom allowed Joseph to interpret the dreams of the baker, cupbearer, and the Pharaoh. I pray that you would be filled with the intelligence and wisdom from the Holy Spirit.
After becoming the second-in-command, Egypt had seven years of prosperity. Storage was built to store crops over the years of prosperity. Then after the 7 years of prosperity, 7 years of famine followed. The storage was opened and supplied Egyptians with crops. The dangerous famine was not a problem for Joseph. The danger is not a problem to those who pray and are prepared. Disaster greets the unprepared. The famine did not occur only in Egypt. The nearby countries also faced famine; Jacob and his family faced famine in the Promised Land also.
It is written in verse 42:1-2, 1 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
The people in the Promised Land ran out of food and had to risk their lives in search for food in the foreign countries. God’s providence begins here through famine-God created an opportunity for Joseph to meet his brothers through famine.
It is written in verses 3-5: 3Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5So Israel's sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
Those who went to Egypt to buy food were the ten brothers who wanted to forget Joseph. However, we later realize that they were not able to forget Joseph. Like Joseph’s brothers, some people drink, do drugs, or have other habits to forget about their guilt.
Jacob was afraid to lose, Joseph’s brother, Benjamin, so he did not send Benjamin to Egypt. We see the fear of the father who lost a son. Jacob was still filled with pain of losing Joseph. It is written in verses 6-7: 6Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. 7As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” Then brothers came before Joseph and bowed down;
Joseph’s dream at the age of 17 was being fulfilled. Joseph’s brothers did not know the dream was being fulfilled. This is God’s providence and His method. Joseph immediately recognized his brothers. However, his brothers did not recognize him. We see God’s hands at work; he allowed Joseph and his brothers to meet. They did not meet out of coincidence. Joseph’s brothers lived their lives pretending to have forgotten, but their hearts were fixed on the moment when they sold their brother Joseph as a slave. Time had passed, but they were not able to forget. Sin does not go away after a while. Guilt does not fade. One who is not forgiven is filled with fear and pain. Still, the brothers did not try to resolve their sins and search for Joseph. So, God opened an opportunity for them.
There was famine and the brothers headed for Egypt in search for food. Unexpectedly they stood before Joseph. This event cannot be planned by humans; it occurred by God’s interference. Verse 8 says, “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.”
Joseph immediately recognized his brothers. However, he pretended to not know them not because Joseph was angry at them. Joseph already forgave his brothers. Salvation’s secret is hidden in Joseph’s behavior towards his brother. If Joseph spoke up to his brothers, the brothers would not have the chance to repent their mistake.
It is written in verses 9-13: 9Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” 10“No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. 11We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” 12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.” 13But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
Joseph called his brothers spies so the brothers would tell the truth. It is written in verses 15-16: 15And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.
The brothers faced a difficult situation. They were in distress because they could not make the request to their father. However, Joseph made that specific request. Joseph sent nine brothers into jail and sent one to bring Benjamin. Then he put them in jail for three days. It is written in verses 18-20: 18On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: 19If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. 20But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
Joseph changed his mind in three days. Instead of nine, he put one in jail and sent the rest with crops back home for the starving households.
Verse 21 says, “They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us.’”
The work of the Holy Spirit is revealed from verse 21. The reason for suffering began to reveal. They thought they were being punished because of Joseph. The more difficult the trials, the more they revealed their sins. This is God’s purpose; this is suffering. The suffering made them remember their sins. I hope you remember the sins you committed in the past. Even though you forgot, I hope you remember and resolve it. Hatred, bitterness, and grudge must be broken. Then God’s blessing will flow and you will bear fruits. The brothers think their current suffering was to compensate for the suffering Joseph faced because of them. They knew the meaning of suffering. God used not just Joseph but the rest of Jacob’s sons to build Israel. God was opening the brothers the chance to repent so they can be lifted up. I hope you would know the meaning of your sufferings. Have you ever harmed others in the past? It is easy for people to be dull towards the harm we bring to others. However, we must remember them. If Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, the brothers would not have repented. They would not be able to deepen their faith. The superficial faith is a problem today. Many people only think of the grace and seek romantic faith. Therefore, they commit sins. Their faith is shallow. The depth of repentance is the depth of faith. Those who shed tears because of their sins do not commit the same sin. Without completely revealing sins, great blessings do not follow. Without repentance, complaining to God becomes easy when experiencing difficult circumstances. David was one of God’s people, but he committed great sins against God. His repentance and suffering is written in Psalm 32:1-4. 1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah
To David, the experience was like bones wasting away. Whenever David committed sins, he felt the heavy hands of God upon him. David is not great because he defeated Goliath, but because of his repentance.
It is written in verses 24-25 in today’s passage: 24He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. 25Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them,
Joseph loved his brothers. He turned away and cried but he dealt with his brothers harshly in front. Joseph seemed scary to his brothers. Joseph put Simeon in jail, but he gave them grains. But that was not his intention.
It is written in verses 26-28: 26they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left. 27At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. 28“My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”
Joseph secretly gave them their silvers back. The brothers discovered the silver on their way back and responded, “What is this that God has done to us?” In their perspective, they could be accused of stealing from Egypt during famine. They began to think clearly. They began to think of all the circumstances God-centered.
In verses 29-34, the brothers explain to their father Jacob all that happened.
It is written in verses 35-38: 35As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 36Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” 37Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.” 38But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
Even though Jacob is one of the ancestors of faith, we see the side of him without spiritual discernment. He was not able to see God’s providence. So he thought everything was against him.
I pray that you would look at all circumstances in the God-centered perspective. Do not look at the circumstances in your own perspective.
If you believe in Jesus Christ and became God’s child, all circumstances are blessed circumstances. If you look at the times you have been wrongly blamed and harmed in God’s perspective, you will be greatly blessed like Joseph. God does not bring ruin to his own people. Look towards the great blessings God will bring. Remember that God will even use your failure to bless you. I pray that we would only look at God’s providence in our lives. There is no coincidence in the lives of Christians. All occur according to God’s plans.
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