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