Theological Commentary: Click Here
The plot
thickens. Joseph’s brothers return home
and the food runs out. There is an
argument between the sons and Jacob about returning. Eventually it is decided that the sons have
to return with Benjamin in order to get more food. Jacob has to choose between dying of
starvation and potentially losing his only remaining son from his favorite
wife, Rachel.
Isn’t it
funny what fear can do for us? Don’t
forget that Simeon was held back in Egypt in prison! Jacob is afraid of losing another son, so he
plays it safe and lets him rot in prison rather than potentially losing
another. When we are in places of
greatest gain, we are also usually in places of greatest risk. Fear steps in and often tempts us to play it
safe. Jacob is content potentially
starving and letting Simeon stay in jail rather than letting the sons return to
Egypt with more food.
Keep in mind
that the fear isn’t usually rational.
The fear is often a perceived fear.
But just because it is perceived doesn’t mean it is real. Has Egypt given Jacob any reason to
fear? Did the brothers not return with
plenty of food having spent none of their money? The only bad thing that happened was that
Simeon was retained until they should return.
Jacob assumes that Simeon is retained because Egypt wants to harm
Benjamin. That is a perceived fear, but
it is not a rational one. So often fear
keeps us from enjoying God’s blessing.
Notice what
it is that gets Jacob through his fear.
Necessity is what motivates Jacob.
Literally, the food runs out and the threat of starving becomes quite
real. Jacob moves past his fear when he
hits rock bottom. This is why so many of
us experience the need to hit rock bottom before we can go forward. So long as we can, we bunker down and hide in
our safe places. Need brings us
out. Need causes us to leave our safe
place. Need opens us up to being in a
position of receiving and appreciating God’s blessing.
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