SCRIPTURE: Genesis 42
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. [Genesis 42:21-24]
The brothers don’t know who Joseph is, that he still loves them.
We see Joseph’s heart through his tears, even though he makes them go through this time of not knowing who he really is.
It is for their own good that they endure this, to realize how bad their sin was.
This gives us insight into how God works among us too, how He is with us and loves us, even though He remains hidden and allows us to go through trials.
“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” [John 11:34-36]
Jesus weeps, even though He knows that He can raise Lazarus.
Why did Jesus allow Mary and Martha and their family friends go through this, why did He delay His return until after Lazarus died… if He loved them so much.
The answer lies in what He is doing among them, and us, and how He still allows us to go through trials even though He has the power to change them.
This is not just revenge – ‘I’ll teach them for what they did to me’, but soul-healing.
God’s concern is not just to get us out of trouble (which we all wish He did), but to rescue our soul from the sin that gets us into trouble.
We need to realize how bad our sin is, and why we need God’s mercy and help.
God wants to restore us fully as His children; Jesus wants to restore us fully as His brothers and sisters – THIS is why He allows us to go through the seasons of not knowing, of struggling, of realizing our sin and our need for His help.
But through it all, as we struggle and suffer, He is weeping.
And in time He will intervene, when the time is right.
His timing is not our timing, and His focus is on eternity, not just the here and now.
We may for a season go through trials, but they are all preparation.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. [2 Corinthians 4:16-18]
Why do we not lose heart?
Because we know that God, though invisible to us, is with us; we know that He loves us and weeps with us; we know that what we are going through is for our own good, even though it is hard; and we know that in time, He will make all things right.
Whenever we struggle, or face hardship or even death, remember … Jesus weeps!
PRAYER:
Lord, I may not realize You are with me, but You are – loving me, weeping with me, working on me, helping me.
These are the words that spoke to me this morning:
As Joseph was dealing with his brothers he said ‘I fear God.’ Those who are part of the family of God will do what is right and true. They will deal with others in the way that God wants them to.
Those the wrong oft seems so strong God is at work among His people. All seems to be against the family but we know the end of the story – a happy reunion – restoration. God is at work His purposes to fulfill. We must keep our eyes on the finish line when we are discouraged and feel that all is against us. God uses all for His purpose even breaking our prideful hearts so that we do His will. Look at Jacob. Look at the brothers. May we be like Joseph who realizes that all happened for His purposes and that the Lord used Him to bring restoration to the land and people.
And He continues to use His servants today. You and me.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.