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.’” 6 Israel asked, “Why did you
bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?” 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’?”
Lesson One: Ignoring and procrastinating will not make
problems go away. In fact it makes them
worse. Note, here, Jacob is named as
Israel. He is no longer a supplanter he
is a prince with God. The past has been
erased. Jacob or Israel made it worse by
waiting. It has actually been defined as
a mental disorder. It's a sign of a
serious underlying health issue. For example, ADHD , OCD , anxiety, and
depression are associated with procrastination. Also, research suggests that
procrastination can be a cause of serious stress and illness. Of course we know Jacob’s problem he did not
want his son to go to Egypt. Did you
know that 95 percent of us procrastinate to some degree. While it may be
comforting to know that you're not alone, it can be sobering to realize just
how much it can hold you back. Usually
involves ignoring an unpleasant, but likely more important task, in favor of
one that is more enjoyable or easier.
Jacob did not want to face a future problem. In this case we see classic procrastination. He hoped the problem would go away. He waited until the food was gone. He then played the blame game. He got after his boys by bringing the problem
on Him. They did but blaming them wasn’t
solving the problem. People who like Jacob wait too long end up making it worse
and stressing themselves out and others.
So here are some suggestions to deal with difficult situation. Define the problem and meet it head on. Look for solutions. Give yourself reasonable time to solve
it. Ask for advice. Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance. Then proceed.
Another lesson is that other people’s sin affect us. The boy’s sin did and sometimes it is up to
us to solve it. If that happens just
accept it has happen and solve it with grace, love forgiveness and mercy. Don’t hold it over their head. God did not with you.
8 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. 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.” 11 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. 12 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. 13 Take your
brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty[a] 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.”
Lesson Two: Judah then offers to guarantee Benjamin’s
safety. He however does not offer his
children. His offer was reasonable. Rueben had offered his children to be killed
and Jacob rejected it. When Judah made
the offer it was reasonable. He also
pointed out the obvious. They could have
been back to Egypt twice. Logic, reason,
wisdom and love often resolve’s difficult situations. Judah was I think in this case an excellent
negotiator. There is a great lesson for
us here when faced with a difficult situation with others. Walk in love acceptance and forgiveness. Be reasonable, state the obvious, offer a
wise compromise or solution and seek to reconcile.
So Jacob does what he always did. He knew he had to send Benjamin so he sent
them back with the best of the land as a gift.
He did this with Esau. He knew
that a gift often brings down barriers.
Next, he told them to take back twice as much silver to rectify that
oversight or mistake. Jacob when he knew
had to do something he did all he could to rectify what had happened. We must do the same. Jacob gives us a lesson here that we must do
all we can and then involve God in the situation. He said may God grant you mercy in the sight
of this man. Course Jacob did not know
God would because Joseph was his son. I
love this fact. Jacob as a God loving
man wanted divine help. Always involve
God in all you do. Whatever situation,
scenario or problem you face involve the Lord right away. Say, God here is what happening. I turn it over to you. It is yours.
Now remember God always has the solution. As soon as you ask the answer is on the
way. He is not surprised by what is
happening. He has already placed the
people, resources and solution in place.
It has to do with timing.
Remember that. Jacob was
bereaved and he accepted what was happening as divine will. When you are in this place remember God’s
will is the most important thing. God
has a purpose for everything. Even if we
do not understand it.
5 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. 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 a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.” 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.”
Lesson Three: So the boys took Benjamin and took the silver
back to Egypt. They hurried and
presented themselves to Joseph. I love
the fact that the boys wanted to rectify the situation and get their reputation
back in place. They knew that Simeon was
in prison and needed to be released, they knew that Benjamin was the condition
for his release and their survival. They
met the challenge head on. I think Judah
was the main reason. He had pledged
himself to make it happen. A simple
lesson if you have been accused of wrong doing do everything you can to make
the situation right. Accept
responsibility, state the facts, get and give the whole story, forgive as you
go, cooperate, ask for divine help, stay strong, be truthful and then move on. Be a person of truth, integrity, accountability,
transparency and godliness.
Now Joseph, when he saw Benjamin he had his steward get everything for a
meal with them at noon. So we know that
they arrived in the morning. His steward
took them to Joseph’s house. Now notice
their reaction. They thought he was
going to make them slaves and take their property because of the silver. Fear, remorse and guilt has a huge part to
play in wrongful deeds. These boys
through their dealings with Joseph would plague them. They had no idea that divine favor would be
given to them. The extreme reaction is
often where people go when they are plague by negative feelings of wrong done
to them or by them. I don’t want you to
be like these boys. When you have done wrong
follow what I have already suggested.
Also remember that divine favor, grace and mercy is given without any
strings attached. When you ask God for
forgiveness, make the decision to not do it again and receive his
forgiveness. Remember God will never
bring it up again and if it comes up again it is either the devil or the consequences. If the devil shut him down by reminding him
you have been forgiven and where he is going.
If it is consequences deal with them as they come.
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