All These Things Are Against Me....

“And Jacob their father said to them [his sons, after they returned from Egypt], ‘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 42:36, NKJV

Joseph predicted seven years of plenty followed by seven years of desperate famine. Because of his God-given wisdom and insight, Egypt was able to prepare for the coming lack. They had grain when the rest of the region, including Canaan, felt the bite of the famine. When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons (except Benjamin, Rachel's only remaining child) down to buy food from them. There the brothers encountered Joseph, the brother they had betrayed and sold into slavery, who was now second-in-command of all Egypt. Unsurprisingly, they didn't recognize him - but Joseph recognized them. Though at one point his heart was so overcome that he had to go out of their sight and weep, he kept his identity secret and tested his brothers' character. Were they still liars and bullies? Or had they changed? Joseph could not hope for an honest answer once his brothers knew who he was. To get at the truth, he had to test their actions. He accused his brothers of being spies and questioned them closely about their family and their reason for being in Egypt. He gave them food (and returned their money to them in their sacks) and let them return home, on one condition: that to prove that they were who they said they were (the sons of one father) they should bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them on their next trip. Joseph held Simeon in Egypt to ensure that they would, indeed, come back. When the eleven remaining brothers returned to Jacob, the old man was dismayed. Joseph, as far as he knew, was dead and gone. Simeon was a hostage to a seemingly unfriendly ruler. Now his sons also wanted to take Benjamin from him too? Jacob cried out, “All these things are against me.” If he had only known! The love the Lord bears His children is boundless. So is His power. Jacob didn't realize, but the very things he believed were against him were actually be used for him - to not only reunite him with Simeon, but to restore to him the beloved son he had long ago given up for dead. Furthermore, the Lord was preparing - through Joseph - to bless Jacob and his family with abundant protection and provision in Egypt. Jacob believed everything was against him. So do we, quite often. This is not the case! God is working all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) We may not see the good He intends right away. We may not even fully understand it this side of eternity. But because He has proved His word to us in so many other ways, we can trust Him to fulfill His promise and do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

by Rebecca...