Upping the Ante of Our Pain
God uses pain to get our attention and change our lives.
Sometimes that pain has to be extended.
Genesis 43:1–2 (ESV) Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”
Notice the little moniker of verse 1, the famine has moved to "severe" in the land. The famine was present where Jacob's sons lived, now it is severe "in the land." The word "severe" can also be translated, "grievous", "thick", or "heavy." Whatever the case, it has lasted long enough and reached far enough to upend the intentions of Joseph's brother never to return to Egypt.
Joseph's brothers are shown to be so very hard-headed and emotionless in these narratives. Think of it, they had no intention of going back. Not even for their brother Simeon. They were settled to let things go on as they were. Had God not extended the famine, Simeon would have been absorbed into Egypt and they would have moved on... or so it seems. Remember, these are the same brothers who slew all the men of a village in defense of their sister one time. There is also Judah who's scandalous nature is revealed in Genesis 37. Then there is Reuben who slept with his father's concubines. To top it off, all the brothers conspired together to sell their kin to slavery.
People like these often require the strong arm of God to bend them, break them and ultimately save them... from themselves. That strong arm will be Joseph's loving but stern tactics to dissolve them of their self-centered ways. They will come back to Joseph bowing to his mercy with brother Benjamin in tow.
Who are we in this story? We are not Joseph. We are not the noble man at the right hand of the king who provides food for his enemies. No, we are the brothers! We are the ones who refuse to listen and stubbornly plan for self-preservation at all costs. We are the ones who reject repentance for fear of our own lives or status.
What we will see is that we are stubborn for no reason! Our brother is waiting to care for us if we will simply come back with hearts no longer intent on evil. Joseph wants to see his brothers acting with compassion - just as he will act toward them himself. Joseph will care for them and give them a choice land of their own.
We need not fear our true and better Joseph. He is looking for us, He is seeking to care for us. But He is first seeking to dismiss form us our own rebellion. It may hurt while he does it. We may be afraid or anxious through the process. But in the end, a banqueting table awaits.
Sometimes that pain has to be extended.
Genesis 43:1–2 (ESV) Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”
Notice the little moniker of verse 1, the famine has moved to "severe" in the land. The famine was present where Jacob's sons lived, now it is severe "in the land." The word "severe" can also be translated, "grievous", "thick", or "heavy." Whatever the case, it has lasted long enough and reached far enough to upend the intentions of Joseph's brother never to return to Egypt.
Joseph's brothers are shown to be so very hard-headed and emotionless in these narratives. Think of it, they had no intention of going back. Not even for their brother Simeon. They were settled to let things go on as they were. Had God not extended the famine, Simeon would have been absorbed into Egypt and they would have moved on... or so it seems. Remember, these are the same brothers who slew all the men of a village in defense of their sister one time. There is also Judah who's scandalous nature is revealed in Genesis 37. Then there is Reuben who slept with his father's concubines. To top it off, all the brothers conspired together to sell their kin to slavery.
People like these often require the strong arm of God to bend them, break them and ultimately save them... from themselves. That strong arm will be Joseph's loving but stern tactics to dissolve them of their self-centered ways. They will come back to Joseph bowing to his mercy with brother Benjamin in tow.
Who are we in this story? We are not Joseph. We are not the noble man at the right hand of the king who provides food for his enemies. No, we are the brothers! We are the ones who refuse to listen and stubbornly plan for self-preservation at all costs. We are the ones who reject repentance for fear of our own lives or status.
What we will see is that we are stubborn for no reason! Our brother is waiting to care for us if we will simply come back with hearts no longer intent on evil. Joseph wants to see his brothers acting with compassion - just as he will act toward them himself. Joseph will care for them and give them a choice land of their own.
We need not fear our true and better Joseph. He is looking for us, He is seeking to care for us. But He is first seeking to dismiss form us our own rebellion. It may hurt while he does it. We may be afraid or anxious through the process. But in the end, a banqueting table awaits.
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