Interesting Choices

Interesting Choices

Genesis 42: ¹⁸ Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. ²⁰ And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”

 

And they did so. ²¹ Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”

 

²² And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.” ²³ But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. ²⁴ And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.

 

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Joseph told his brothers that one must stay in prison while the others take the grain home and bring Benjamin back. Not knowing it was Joseph, Reuben got angry and said “See, I told you this would happen” in so many words. They did not know Joseph could understand their discussion because he spoke to them through an interpreter.

 

My Observations:

• Simeon was chosen by Joseph possibly because Simeon had a quick temper, and he killed the Shechemite men, avenging Dinah.
• Reuben chose to not be part of the plot against Joseph and he brought this up during the distressful conversation.
• Jacob would eventually curse Simeon for his rage that he may not have gotten under control.

 

Simeon made a choice to kill the Shechemite men when is sister Dinah was assaulted. But he went several steps further by taking the Shechemite possessions. When Reuben left the scene of the crime during the plot against Joseph, Simeon was the next oldest brother and it is believed that he made the decision to dip Joseph’s coat in blood to pretend Joseph was killed by an animal.

 

Akk of the brothers spent time in prison. But Simeon would spend extra time while the brothers traveled back home and then returned with Benjamin. Joseph wept over the pretense, but got his composure back, knowing his family would one day be united.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the choice of Joseph and his brother’s argument?
• What choices have you made that are growing up to be consequential?
• Would you believe GOD is showing you grace over that bad decision and is using it for HIS good plan?