Necessary U-Turn

Necessary U-Turn

Genesis 44: ⁶ So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. ⁷ And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. ⁸ Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? ⁹ With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

 

¹⁰ And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.” ¹¹ Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. ¹² So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. ¹³ Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

 

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Following Joseph’s command, the steward of the house chased after Joseph’s brothers and said the exact words Joseph told him to say. The brothers were innocent, but did not know they had been set up. They now had Simeon and Benjamin and had just celebrated with a feast with Joseph. But they were being told to return to Egypt for possible enslavement.

 

My Observations:

• Just when the brothers thought everything was good, they had to face another problem.
• The brothers did not know they were being set up.
• Joseph’s plan to make the brothers feel uncomfortable was working, but he was protecting them versus harming them as they thought.

 

Whenever something goes “wrong” we yell at GOD and say “Come on!” Joseph’s brothers could not figure out how money and Joseph’s cup were in their sacks. All they could do was load the donkeys and ride back to Egypt.

 

Doom wiped away any delight they had. Simeon probably feared the worst. He had spent months in prison and now as facing charges of stealing from the governor of Egypt. But little did they know that GOD was orchestrating a plan for their comfort. This U-Turn was important.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the actions of the steward of the house?
• Have you ever been in an unfavorable position and thought GOD had left you?
• Are you willing to remember GOD’s promise that HE will never leave you or forsake you?