GENESIS 43
19 So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20 and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. 21 And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, 22 and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” 23 He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, 25 they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
– Genesis 43:19-25
GENESIS 43 TREPIDATIONS BEFORE MEAL WITH JOSEPH
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the sons of Jacob arrived back in Egypt, they were full of fear
They had no idea what was going to happen to them there
They confessed to Joseph’s steward of the house about the money
And they were assured not to fear as their payments were received
So, with trepidation, they prepared their presents for Joseph
They had no idea what was in store for them during this dinner.
It is mind blogging for the sons of Jacob to figure out why they were ushered in the house of this ruler of Egypt. He had all the power to make them slaves of Egypt. He can frame them up and accuse them of anything they had not done. Even though the steward reassured them that he got their payment and that it was their God and the God of their father that had put those treasures in their sacks, they still were very anxious.
Fear can debilitate us especially if we are keeping unconfessed sins in our lives as these brothers of Joseph kept over a decade ago. They were crippled and imprisoned by the consequences of those sins.
REFLECTION
- How does unconfessed sins cripple and imprison the sinner?
