Saturday, April 20, 2013

Genesis 42 - High Cost of God's Plan

Living in Canaan, Jacob and his sons began to realize the extent of this famine. This was not just a time for tightening your belt and foregoing desserts - this famine had the potential to decimate his flocks and his family.

Hearing that there are store in Egypt he sends his sons (all but Benjamin). They meet Joseph (but don't know it) in his position of Governor of the land and ask for to buy food. Joseph appears to deal harshly with the brothers and doesn't reveal his identity but tells them to bring Benjamin from Canaan.

As a pledge for their return, they leave Simeon in jail. The remaining brothers return to Canaan to ask Jacob to release Benjamin. Reuben even offers the lives of his sons to demonstrate how committed he is to protecting Benjamin on this journey. In the end, Jacob clings to Benjamin and will not release him. Jacob speaks of Simeon as if he were already dead when it was within his power to release him. But the price was too high.
Jacob would do without rather than give into the demands of the Egyptian.

We too want our desires without having to sacrifice to get them. We set boundaries around which we will not cross ostensibly even at God's command. Our pride tells us we should not have to suffer or sacrifice and if it is required it must not be from God since He doles out blessing after blessing.

Like Jacob unwilling to show His youngest son in order to obtain food and the release of Simeon, we sometimes choose to take our stand to our own detriment. Jacob didn't know that God was working out a plan for his good and that He would use this demand to reunite him with his beloved Joseph and to provide for his needs for food.

Nowhere in the passage do you see Jacob look to God for his direction. He had made up his mind and set his boundaries. To go to God would leave his boundaries open for redirection.

I am not against boundaries. We should have good boundaries and the Bible helps us to set those wisely. But if we are unwilling to let God direct the affairs of our lives we have effectively switched sides and are now working against God's plan for us.

Pride keeps us from submission to God and from looking to him for wisdom. We think we know the way - when in reality God may be working out a plan different than what we envisioned for ourselves.

Consider the plans you have and even some of the stresses that keep you from enjoying life as you know it. Is it possible that you have determined not to pay the high price of God's plans and are staying within your comfort zone where life is safe and controllable?

If you belong to God, He will not let you go. But that doesn't mean He will modify His best plans for you to allow you to take the easy way out. God may even bring you to a place of humility to help you change your thinking and to accept His plan for you as we will see in the be next lesson.

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.

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