A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/20

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

             GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD 

                          PART XX

"I, Jacob, father of twelve son one of whom is presumed dead and one is in prison in Egypt, looked at my nine sons in front of me.... They had gathered in my tent here in Canaan... We were still suffering the effects of a famine.... I did not understand why God had not yet blessed us with a good harvest....Are we not his people who are to be in this land since God had given it to my grandfather Abraham?...Why then am I going through so much hardship?...First of all, the loss of my favourite son Joseph.... Then the imprisonment of my son Simeon... And now I have to send my nine sons back to Egypt... For it seems there is plenty of grain in Egypt.... It looks like Egypt is the land of plenty rather than Canaan.... I would nearly think that God wants all of us to live in Egypt, al least for a season.... But, of course, I must be wrong... For that can never be the case... However, I do have to send my nine sons to Egypt to buy more food for us....The problem is that Judah, one of my sons, has just told me they will not go to Egyt without my youngest son, Benjamin....I am very frustrated with my sons for having told the "Egyptian" official about their youngest brother when they stood before him on their previous trip to Egypt....These sons cause me nothing but trouble... Will they ever grow up to become wise men?"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jacob is very frustrated with his sons because they have told the "Egyptian" official about their youngest brother...

                   

                       ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFEL OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                         GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD 

                                                                         PART XX

Jacob's nine sons stand before him in his tent in Canaan. He has just told them that they need to return to Egypt to buy grain for the families for they are running out of food. But his one son, Judah, makes it very clear that they cannot go to Egypt without their youngest brother Benjamin. However Jacob or Israel as he is known, is very upset with his sons for having revealed to the "Egyptian" official that they have a younger brother back home as you can read in Genesis 43:6

Israel replied, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?"

Jacob is very frustrated that his sons lack wisdom in knowing what they should share with others, including this "Egyptian" offical, about their family.

Read Part Twenty-One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/19

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES       

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                         PART XIX

"I, Judah, one of the nine remaining sons of my father Jacob, besides my youngest brother Benjamin, looked at my father... He has just told us that we must return to Egypt to buy more grain... We all understand the need to do so for our stock of grain is dangerously low... However, our father Jacob needs to understand as well that we will not go without our youngest brother Benjamin...We all know that it will be useless to go to Egypt without him...The "Egyptian" official will not allow us to come before him if Benjamin is not with us.... It would, therefore, be a complete waste of time if just the nine of us went to see him..And all my other brothers know that... But our father needs to be made to see that as well.... We all know that his youngest son is most precious to him.... Especially after the loss of his son Joseph... Nevertheless, Benjamin will have to come with us this time....So I spoke up and told him so... I am now waiting to hear what my father's response will be.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Judah, one of Jacob's sons, speaks up to tell his father that Benjamin has to come with them to Egypt...

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                         GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                    PART XIX

The famine is Canaan continues to be very severe and Jacob and his family are affected by it as well. Though for a season there is enough food for them to eat thanks to the grain the brothers had bought in Egypt, the day arrives that their supplies begin to run out so Jacob tells his sons to return to Egypt to buy more food. However, the brothers remember that they cannot come before the "Egyptian" official without their youngest brother as you can read in Genesis 43:3-4

But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, "You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you." If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, "You will not see my face again unles your brother is with you."

Judah speaks on behalf of all the nine brothers when he tells their father Jacob that, unless Bejamin goes with them, they will not go to Egypt.

Read Part Twenty HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/18

                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES  

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                       PART XVIII       

"I, Jacob, had a favourite son... His name is Joseph... But he is no more... I have eleven other sons.... One of them, Simeon, is alive... But he is not with us here in Canaan... He is in prison in Egypt.... I blame his nine other brothers for that...They went to Egypt to buy grain from an "Egyptian" official... Because we have a famine over here....They came back with grain... But they returned without their brother.... They told me they had no choice but to leave Simeon behind...They told me as well that I should be happy that at least nine of them returned to me... Because they had all been put in prison initially....At that time they did not know if anyone of them would be released... But, thankfully, the "Egyptian" official appeared to them after three days... And spoke with them...He told them that nine of them could go home with grain for their families...He selected Simeon to stay behind... He told them as well that they will need to bring their youngest brother with them to Egypt in order for their brother Simeon to be released...However, they know that I cannot let their youngest brother go with them to Egypt....He is too important for me...Unfortunately, we are beginning to run out of  food once again.... So I may have to tell my sons to go back to Egypt to buy grain.... But I cannot let my youngest son Benjamin go back with them... For I am determined not to let him go."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jacob has to tell his sons to return to Egypt to buy more grain for the family...

 

                      ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFEL OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                                          GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                      PART XVIII

Jacob, the father of the twelve sons, whose son Simeon is in prison in Egypt, is unwilling to let his youngest son, Benjamin go to Egypt to meet with this "Egyptian" official, who is in charge of the distribution of food. But in time they completely run out of food again so Jacob has no choice but to tell his sons to go back to Egypt as you can read in Genesis 43:1-2

Now the famine was still severe in the land, so when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little food."

Jacob may well hope that his sons have forgotten that his youngest son Benjamin is supposed to go with them to Egypt. After all, they do know that he cannot live without this son at his side.

Read Part Nineteen HERE

 

                                                                                                                                                                                

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/17

  

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

          GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                         PART XVII

"We, the nine sons of Jacob, have returned to him from Egypt... We had so hoped to make today a good day for our father... It seems that initially we were successful in giving him some joy.... For we have returned with much grain so he knows that is family will not starve...However, things went downhill from then on... For, first of al, he soon found out that Simeon is not with us.... He then learned that Benjamin has to go with us the next time we go to Egypt to buy grain...Finally, we discovered that we all had our pouches with silver in our sacks....It is a good thing that the day is coming to an end... We do not think we can handle any more problems... As it is we are having too many problems... And we do not have a solution for any of them.... Reuben tried to help out by suggesting that he will take care of Benjamin when we take him to Egypt the next time we go there....But our father does not want to take him up on his offer..He is determined that Benjamin will not go to Egypt when we need to buy grain again... We can only hope that the famine will soon end... We have heard rumours though that the famine will last for seven years... That would mean we have another six years of famine... We dare not tell our father that terrible news... Because we know that if that rumour is true then we will have to return to Egypt next year or so....And Benjamin will have to go with us... We just cannot go without him... For we will not see the face of the "Egyptian" official... No Benjamin.... No official... No official... No Simeon... No grain for our families... The future does look bleak....It has not looked good since we sold our brother Joseph to the merchants we took him to Egypt... We should have listened to Reuben that day so many years ago... We were so foolish then... We are sorry now that we caused our father so much grief... How we wish we can still make amends... We can only pray to God that He will give us an opportunity to do so... Perhaps one day He will... It does not look like it.. But God is the God of the impossible... So perhaps one day He will allow us to do something that in a small way makes up to our father the sorrow that we have caused him... We can, of course, never give him back the son he lost through our foolishness... But God, in His grace, may one day allow us to do something that will bring joy to our aged father.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that one of Jacob's sons, Reuben, is even willing to give up his own two sons for the life of Benjamin...

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                               GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                             PART XVII

The nine sons of Jacob who have returned from Egypt, listen to their father Jacob's outburst. There is not much they can say for it is true that Joseph is no more and that Simeon,though alive, is not with them here in Canaan. However, they know one thing: Benjamin will have to go back with them to Egypt the next time they go there so Reuben speaks up as you can read in Genesis 42:37-38

Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back." But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you: his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."

Jacob listens to his son Reuben's promise but Jacob has made up  his mind; Benjamin will never go with them to Egypt. He has already lost one son from his beloved wife Rachel. He will not risk losing the second son from Rachel.

Read Part Eighteen HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/16

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                         PART XVI 

"We, Jacob's sons, explained to our father why Simeon is not with us but is in prison in Egypt...We then began to empty our sacks with grain... We knew that our father was very upset that his son Simeon had been left behind... And we are not sure if he is willing to let us take his youngest son Benjamin with us when we need to buy grain again.... It seemed seeing all the grain that we have brought back with us made him a little happier... For it means there is food for all of us for quite some time.... But his improved mood did not last long... For as we were pouring out grain from our sacks something else came out as well... Our pouches of silver.... It was first of all, Judah, who noticed something coming from his sack that he did not want to see... Then each one of us noticed his pouch, apart from the one brother who on the way from Egypt had already discovered that his pouch was in his sack... And it was not just the pouches that have been returned to us.... No, the silver was still in each one of them... We were horrified to discover that somehow we had brought our pouches with the silver back with us... Had we forgotten to pay?...No, impossible... We know that we had paid....Then how have our pouches been returned to us with the silver still in them?... We have no answer to these questions...Neither does our father Jacob... He only looked more miserable... And we could not blame him... We had so hoped to give him some happiness today with our return... It seems we have made life more bleak for him instead.... Will we ever be able to give him some joy?"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jacob's sons find their pouches with silver are in their sacks when they return from Egypt.

                     ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                     GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                     PART XVI

After the nine sons of Jacob have explained to their father why their brother Simeon is not with them, they begin to empty their sacks with grain. As they pour out the grain from the sacks, something appears that they recognise: their pouches with silver that they had brought with them to Egypt to pay for the grain. They do not understand how their pouches with the silver can be in their sacks. Fear bgins to fill their hears as you can read in Genesis 42:35-36

As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. Their father Jacob said to them, You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"

Initially this day seemed to be such a good day for Jacob with the return of his sons. But then things went from bad to worse when he learned that Simeone has been imprisoned in Egypt and can only be released if Benjamin goes to Egypt. And to make matters worse, all the silver has been returned to his sons. It looks like everything and everyone is against him.

Read Part Seventeen HERE

                

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/15

 

                       

                                                                               Read Part One HERE
                        

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                            PART XV

"We, nine of Jacob's ten sons, have just come back home from Egypt to our father Jacob....It was wonderful to see him and our families.... Our father was very grateful to have us safely back.... He was so pleased as well that our mission has been successful... For we have come back with plenty of grain for all our families... However, he soon realised that Simeon is not with us... So we sat down with him and told him everything that had happened to us while in Egypt... We told him about the "Egyptian" official in charge of the distribution of grain... That he had been particularly harsh with us for reasons we did not understand... How he had accused us of being spies....How we had then explained to him that we are all sons of one father....That one son is no more... That our youngest brother is at home because our father needs him so much... We then had to tell our father that the official insisted to keep Simeon until we return to him....But when we return we must bring our youngest brother with us... Our father has not yet said anything about allowing us to take Benjamin with us when we go back to Egypt to buy more grain... Hopefully the famine will end very soon so we will not need to return.. But what about Simeon?.... If we do not return with Benjamin then Simeon will remain in prison in Egypt... Oh, we are having a dilemma... Who can help us out?"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn details of the brothers' encouncer with their father Jacob after their return from Egypt...

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                    GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD   

                                                                   PART XV

Nine of the ten sons of Jacob return to Canaan from Egypt where they meet with their father. They tell him in details what has happened to them while in Egypt as you can read in Genesis 42:29-34

When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan they told him all that had happened to them. They said, "The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land. But we said to him, "We are honest men; we are not spies.We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan." Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, "This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land."

Jacob now understands why Simeon is not with them and he realises as well that he will not see Simeon again unless Benjamin goes back to Egypt with his brothers. But can he live without his youngest son?

Read Part Sixteen HERE

  

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD PART 14

  

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                          PART XIV

"We, nine of the ten sons of Jacob, have left Egypt for Canaan... However, our brother Simeon is not with us... Our father Jacob does not know that as yet... We are quite worried how we are going to explain to him why we had to leave Simeon with the "Egyptian" official in charge of the distribution of grain....Perhaps we can say to him that it could have been much worse.... For we could all have ended up staying in prison in Egypt indefinitely....As it was, all of us spent three days in custody... Thankfully, on the third day the "Egyptian" offcial appeared... And he told us that he would let nine of us go home to our father... We were so relieved to hear him say that we could go back home to our father and our families...We did not dare say anything when he told us he would keep one of us with him in prison....We know too that we must bring our youngest brother Benjamin with us the next time we go back for grain....If we do not we will not see Simeon again....We will need a miracle for Benjamin to be able to go with us.... For our father is so fond of him... Especially after having lost one son already... The son he loved the most.... Having travelled for a number of hours, we decided to stop for the night... One of us opened his sack to feed his donkey...To his shock and horror he saw that the silver payment he had used to buy the grain with has been returned to him...It was on top of the grain...What are we to do?... We dare not return to Egypt....It seems we do not have a choice but to take the silver back with us...Hopefully, he is the only one who has had the silver returned to him....No doubt we will find out when we return home...."

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                    GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                      PART XIV

Nine of the ten brothers leave Egypt for Canaan having left Simeon behind in prison. After having travelled for some time they stop for the night as you can read in Genesis 42:27-28

At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack."My silver has been returned to me," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack."Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

One of the brothers opens his sack and to his shock realises that his silver has been returned to him. Fear enters their hearts that this may cause more trouble for them in the future. 

Read Part Fifteen HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD PART 13

 Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES 

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                         PART XIII

"I, Joseph, the "Egyptian" official in charge of the distribution of grain here in Egypt, have just said goodbye to nine of my brothers.... I have kept one of my brothers, Simeon, with me here in prison as a guarantee that they will return with their youngest brother Benjamin one day... They do not need to worry about Simeon... I will make sure that he is well taken care of while he waits for their return... My brothers have gone back to our father Jacob with plenty of grain... I have told my steward to make sure that each man's sack is filled to overflowing with grain... For I do not want their families to starve.... Moreover, I have given them food for their journey since they will have to travel for many hours... I decided to return to them their silver as well... My steward has placed each man's silver in his sack.... They will find it when they open their sacks... This may happen while they are still traveling or when they get back to Canaan... I wonder how they will react when they find out their silver has been returned to them... Perhaps they will take it back with them when they return to me in due course... I am sure they will return to me because the famine is going to last for another six years....They will not realise that.... But I know from Pharaoh's dreams that the famine will last for a total of seven years...So far only the first year of the famine has passed."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph's brothers return to Canaan...

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                     GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD 

                                                                  PART XIII

It is time for the brothers to prepare for their return trip to Canaan. Joseph, the "Egyptian" official in charge of the distribution of grain, tells his steward to give them plenty of grain for their families back home so that they will not starve as you can read in Genesis 42:25-26

Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

Joseph makes sure that there is provision for their journey back to Canaan as well since it will take them some time before they are back with their father Jacob. Moreover, without their knowledge, he has their silver put back in their sacks.

Read Part Fourteen HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/12

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD 

                            PART XII

"I, Joseph, the "Egyptian" official in charge of the food distribution here in Egypt, have gone to the prison where I placed my ten brothers... I have told them that nine of them could go back to their father Jacob in Canaan with the food supply they would need for their families... I then heard them discuss with each other why they believe they were in the predicament they were in.... They thought they were being punished because they had been so cruel to me when they sold me to the merchants who took me to Egypt...I learned as well that Reuben had tried to save me from being sold... But that he had been unable to stop the other brothers from doing so... They did not know I could understand every word they spoke in their Hebrew language... For I speak with them with the help of an interpreter... I was overwhelmed by my emotions when I heard them say that they believed they were being punished for their harsh treatment of me... The tears came to my eyes... So I turned away.... Because I could not let my brothers see I was weeping... It was only after I had control over my emotions that I continued my conversation with them... I then told them that I would keep Simeon here with me in prison in Egypt...But the others could go back home.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Joseph overheard the conversation between his brothers.

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                    PART XII

The brothers listen carefully to Joseph when he comes to see them in prison after they have been there for three days. They then turn to each other and begin to discuss among themselves the possible reason for their troubles as you can read in Genesis 43:21-24

They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that is why this distress has come upon us." Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an account for his blood." They did not realise that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

The brothers do not realise that Joseph can understand every word they say. However, he does not reveal to them that he knows who they are but has Simeon taken from them to stay behind.

Read Part Thirteen HERE