S) "27 Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he is torn in pieces," and I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.'"
Genesis 44:27-29 (NASB)
O) By a clever plan, Joseph had arranged it so that Benjamin would be accused of theft and that his brothers, in their hasty denial, would offer to be brought into slavery, the one with whom Joseph's cup was found (which Joseph had planted in Benjamin's sack). When they were brought back before Joseph, and he was preparing to take Benjamin captive (who was his full brother, as they were the only two children of Rachel), Judah stepped forward with the words above. It was a noble thing that Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin. It was a questionable thing that Joseph schemed this way. But what really came through in this particular passage, was the error of Israel (Jacob). He had placed such a high value on Rachel, and by association both Joseph and Benjamin, that the rest of his children were going to extreme lengths in order to avoid his meltdown. This scene would look much different, if Israel wasn't so dramatic about Benjamin's life. It was unjust toward the rest of his children, and most importantly, it was rebellious toward the LORD. Later, Joseph would humbly acknowledge that God did wondrous things through the treachery of his brothers (see Genesis 50:20). If Israel had humbly put his life, and that of his family, under God's sovereignty from the start, there would have been a lot of grief avoided.
A) There is only so much a person can prepare. I can make all of the plans in the world, trying to evaluate every contingency, but it's all futile because only God knows what will happen (see Proverbs 19:21). It is a serious mistake, if I allow anything or anyone to become "my world," except for the LORD Himself. Only God should have that level of importance in my life. Only He is worthy of that level of attention, and also He is the only one who will never let me down. Only God is completely dependable, unchanging, perfect in His love, and sovereign in His will. I place complete trust in my wife and our marriage, and I am committed for life, but I also acknowledge that the LORD could take her whenever He pleases. If she is "my world," then I am wrecked when God's plans for my marriage contradict my own. The same is true for my children, my ministry, my job, and on and on and on. What Israel was really doing, was holding his life hostage against God's sovereignty. I cannot allow myself to do the same. Conversely, I can literally only imagine the emotional state I would be found in, if my wife or children were suddenly taken to the LORD. However, when I am completely humbled before His sovereignty, and completely convinced of His lovingkindness and justice, then I can be comforted in knowing that His plans will still be done (see Romans 8:28). I can never really prepare myself for that kind of tragedy, but I can be determined now, to trust my Lord completely, and rest in Him through every storm. In any tragedy, I will seek His will, and let the Holy Spirit lead me and comfort me, as He is promised to do.
P) Father, I place all of my faith and trust in Your lovingkindness, because You have proven Yourself to be unfailingly good. I have seen it in my own life, and it is written throughout the truth of the Bible. Your reputation precedes You, and You have never disappointed me. Convict me, Father God, if I am ever placing too much value on anything temporal. Every tragedy, every struggle and hardship, is only another magnificent opportunity for You to be glorified, my Lord. Whatever You will to happen, may it happen, so that my life stands as a testament to Your faithfulness, peace, joy, hope, and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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