Trusting God: Genesis 42:25-38
It can be hard to come to terms with what God wants in our life, especially if it means letting go of something we hold dear. God’s plans are seldom obvious in the beginning. They may make sense in the end, but they can challenge our understanding in the beginning. Two of our greatest tools in embracing God’s plans are faith and trust.
Joseph insists the money for the grain be placed back inside the provisions for the trip back home. This is a generous gesture designed to help his family. They need food; he can provide for their needs. There would be nothing wrong with paying for the food, but Jacob doesn’t see the need.
While Jacob is being generous, God is using tough love through the same action. When the brothers find the silver in their bags, they are afraid. They know they paid for the grain, but the silver ended up back in their hands. How would they prove to the Egyptians they were faithful and trustworthy? Furthermore, Simeon was still in Egypt. What might happen to Simeon if the Egyptians realize these Hebrew left with the grain and their own silver? The bags of money presented more trouble than it solved.
God is setting up an opportunity for repentance. God wants Jacob’s sons to feel like everything related to Egypt is somehow going wrong. Even with their best intentions, events go sideways and spiral out of control. He wants the brothers to feel like a divine agent is working behind the scenes to continually put them in questionable circumstances.
God is setting things up for the big reveal. God wants them to realize He is in control. God wants them to understand how much He can love them despite their hateful actions towards their brother. He wants them to learn to put their trust in Him. In short, He wants to get their attention so when the time is right, repentance can happen and relationship can continue.
The brothers seem ignorant of God’s tightening grip around their life, but Jacob knows something is up. He can smell the proverbial blood in the water. First, Joseph was taken from him. Next, Simeon’s life is in peril. Even worse, the only way to get Simeon back is to put Benjamin at risk.
God has a message for Jacob, too. Jacob must also learn to trust God with what he values. The only way for Jacob’s family to be reunited is for Jacob to relinquish control. Jacob has been a schemer, a manipulator, and a winner for his whole life. For Jacob to move forward, he’ll need to be open to change. Jacob must be willing to wrestle with God and allow God to take the lead.
This is a common struggle we all face. It can be hard to come to terms with what God wants in our life, especially if it means letting go of something we hold dear.
