Genesis 43
Hungry and desperate, Joseph's brothers realize that they must face the Egyptian leader again and to do so, they must bring Benjamin with them. It's Judah, the one who suggested selling his own brother into slavery, who offers his pledge that he will guard the boy.
We get only a glimpse of what Judah might be feeling, but it seems that his guilt must have been a very heavy burden over these twenty years.
When they arrive and are taken to Joseph's home, they're terrified that they will be punished. But the steward tells them, "Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money."
How did this Egyptian steward know about their God? We don't know much about how Joseph lived during these seven years of freedom, but perhaps the steward had heard him tell the story of all his trials, and how God had been with him and had provided for him in every circumstance.
Do we use our trials as opportunities to tell others of God's faithfulness in the trial or to complain about the hardships? Do those who've spent time with us, even if not believers, recognize God's blessings when they see them because we’ve spoken of them so often they seem familiar?
Notice that at no point did Joseph’s brothers consider whether God had blessed them with the money they found in their sacks, as the steward suggested. They assumed that a mistake had been made or someone was setting them up.
Are we more prone to credit a blessing to coincidence, our own hard work, or other people than to recognize that "every good and precious gift comes from above?" May we recognize today the hand of God as He provides everything we need.
Hungry and desperate, Joseph's brothers realize that they must face the Egyptian leader again and to do so, they must bring Benjamin with them. It's Judah, the one who suggested selling his own brother into slavery, who offers his pledge that he will guard the boy.
We get only a glimpse of what Judah might be feeling, but it seems that his guilt must have been a very heavy burden over these twenty years.
When they arrive and are taken to Joseph's home, they're terrified that they will be punished. But the steward tells them, "Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money."
How did this Egyptian steward know about their God? We don't know much about how Joseph lived during these seven years of freedom, but perhaps the steward had heard him tell the story of all his trials, and how God had been with him and had provided for him in every circumstance.
Do we use our trials as opportunities to tell others of God's faithfulness in the trial or to complain about the hardships? Do those who've spent time with us, even if not believers, recognize God's blessings when they see them because we’ve spoken of them so often they seem familiar?
Notice that at no point did Joseph’s brothers consider whether God had blessed them with the money they found in their sacks, as the steward suggested. They assumed that a mistake had been made or someone was setting them up.
Are we more prone to credit a blessing to coincidence, our own hard work, or other people than to recognize that "every good and precious gift comes from above?" May we recognize today the hand of God as He provides everything we need.
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