God’s Renewing Word of Mercy and Forgiveness
Introduction
Genesis 42:25-38: Joseph arranges to have his brothers’s sacks filled with grain, along with the money they had brought. The brothers return home and tell their father that they are to return to Egypt with their youngest brother.
Scripture Reading
Joseph’s Brothers Return to Canaan
25 Joseph gave orders to fill his brothers’ packs with grain, to put each man’s money back in his sack, and to give them food for the trip. This was done. 26 The brothers loaded their donkeys with the grain they had bought, and then they left. 27 At the place where they spent the night, one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey and found his money at the top of the sack. 28 “My money has been returned to me,” he called to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack!” Their hearts sank, and in fear they asked one another, “What has God done to us?”
29 When they came to their father Jacob in Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them: 30 “The governor of Egypt spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying against his country. 31 ‘We are not spies,’ we answered, ‘we are honest men. 32 We were twelve brothers in all, sons of the same father. One brother is dead, and the youngest is still in Canaan with our father.’ 33 The man answered, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men: One of you will stay with me; the rest will take grain for your starving families and leave. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but honest men; I will give your brother back to you, and you can stay here and trade.’”
35 Then when they emptied out their sacks, every one of them found his bag of money; and when they saw the money, they and their father Jacob were afraid. 36 Their father said to them, “Do you want to make me lose all my children? Joseph is gone; Simeon is gone; and now you want to take away Benjamin. I am the one who suffers!”
37 Reuben said to his father, “If I do not bring Benjamin back to you, you can kill my two sons. Put him in my care, and I will bring him back.”
38 But Jacob said, “My son cannot go with you; his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. Something might happen to him on the way. I am an old man, and the sorrow you would cause me would kill me.”
Today’s Key Verse: Genesis 42:29
When they came to their father Jacob in Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them.
Reflect
How do the brothers react when they discover the money in their sacks? When the brothers return home, what do they tell their father? How does Jacob react when told his sons must return to Egypt with Benjamin? Why is he reluctant to let Benjamin accompany them to Egypt? Have you ever been reluctant to do something that someone asked of you? Why?
Pray
Sovereign God, there are times, when faced with a difficult decision, I may be uncertain about what to do. Help me to discern your will, knowing that you will guide me when I place my trust in you. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Genesis 43:1-14: Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin.