01.18.2019 – Old Testament: Gen 42.35–36

To read the Bible in a year, read Genesis 42–43 on January 18, In the year of our Lord Christ 2019

By Don Ruhl

Jacob had many problems in life, some of his own doing, and some because that is how life is. For twenty-two years, he lived with the pain that his son Joseph had supposedly died. As you probably know, through a series of events the brothers come in contact with Joseph again, although not knowing that the man they had met in Egypt was Joseph. Before Joseph would sell any more grain to them, he declared that they had to bring their youngest brother back, and to insure that they did, he kept Simeon with him as security. When they arrived back in the Land of Canaan, they discovered something in their sacks. Watch what Jacob says:

Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me” (Genesis 42.35–36).

We feel for him. Yet, we also know that things will turn around for him shortly, and his family shall prosper magnificently in the land of Egypt and a whole nation shall come from him, carrying his name.

Questions:

• How many times have you had troubles pile up before relief arrived?
• Did you thank God?

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