A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/44

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

             GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                          PART XLIV                            

 "We, the eleven sons of Jacob... Are on our way from Egypt to Canaan with the grain we have just bought.... However, we have just been stopped by the steward of the "Egyptian" official in charge of the grain distribution...He has accused us of having taken the special cup that belongs to the official... We looked at each other.... We know that none of us has done that.... For we are honest men... We even brought back the silver that had been returned to us the last time we came to Egypt to buy grain....We have no reason to steal this special cup of the official... We would be afraid to do so... For, no doubt, it would mean imprisonment....And it might even mean death... We are so convinced that we are innocent that we should tell the steward if any one of us has this cup he should die....And the rest of us will become his slaves." Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the brothers tell the steward they are innocent of stealing the silver cup of the "Egyptian" official...

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                           PART XLIV 

The brothers, including Benjamin, know that they are innocent of any crime. They are, in fact, so certain of their innocene that they are willing to become slaves of the "Egyptian" official if the silver cup were to be found in their possession as you can read in Genesis 44:7-9

But they (the brothers) said to him (the steward of the "Egyptian" official), "Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that. We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouth of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house? If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will beome my lord's slaves."

The brothers, including Benjamin, are so convinced that no one has done anything wrong so they are willing to let one of them die if he is proven to be guilty after all.

Read Part Forty-Five HERE

 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/43

  

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

           GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                        PART XLIII

"We, the eleven sons of Jacob, have finally begun our journey back to Canaan.. It took us a little longer than expected.... Because the "Egyptian" official invited us to have lunch with him at his home yesterday...We would have preferred to just buy our grain... And leave Egypt as soon as we had done that...But we knew we could not refuse his invitation to have a meal with him...Moreover, we needed to wait until Simeon was released... Because we were determined we would not leave without him this time....Anyway, early this morning we were able to leave... Thankfully, none of us had to stay behind this time... We are especially pleased that Benjamin is still with us... We could not face our father if he is not with us...Unfortunately, it seems we are being delayed again... This time by the steward of the official in charge of the grain distribution here in Egypt.... He has just caught up with us... We were very surprised to see him....As far as we know, we have done everything right... We have given him the silver back that we owed him for the grain of a year ago.... And we have paid him the silver we owe him for the grain we have bought this time...We wanted to ask him if there is anything we can do for him....But before we could speak.... He spoke to us... His words shocked us.... For he accused us of having taken the special silver cup of the "Egyptian" official... Does he really believe that we would commit such a crime?"...Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the brothers are accused of having taken the special silver cup of the "Egyptian" official...

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD 

                                                          PART XLIII

While the brothers, including Benjamin, are travelling back to Canaan, they notice a figure in the distance. When he comes closer they recognise him: he is the steward of the "Egyptian" official as you can read in Genesis 44:6

When he (the steward) caught up with them (the brothers), he repeated these words to them ("Why have you repaid good with evil? Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.").

The brothers do not know why the steward has come after them. But they certainly never expected to be accused of stealing the silver cup of the "Egyptian" official.

Read Part Forty-Four HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/42

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                          PART XLII

"I, the official in charge of the grain distribution here in Egyt, saw my eleven brothers off.... They had just been given plenty of grain for their families...They seemed all very relieved... For this time none of them has been kept behind when travelling back home...They seemed to be particularly relieved that their youngest brother Benjamin is still with them...I have noticed that they take particular care of him... I have just now send my steward after them... They will be very surprised to see him... I have given him a message for them... My steward is to tell them that my special silver cup is missing... No doubt, my brothers will want to convince him of their innocence.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the "Egyptian" official sends his steward after the brothers...

             ATTACHMENT A  PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                           PART XLII

The eleven sons of Jacob, including Benjamin, leave for Canaan as soon as their donkeys have been loaded up. However, the "Egyptian" official sends his steward after them not long after their departure as you can read in Genesis 44:3-5

As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. They had not gone far from the city then Joseph said to his steward, "Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, "Why have you repaid good with evil?" Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done."

The brothers, including Benjamin, are very relieved that they are now on their way home with plenty of grain. Most importantly, Benjamin is still with them. However, their peace will soon be disturbed by an unexpected "visitor" sent by the "Egyptian" official.

Read Part Forty-Three HERE

                                                           

                                           

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/41

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

              GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                            PART XLI

 "This morning, I, the official in charge of the grain distribution here in Egypt had given my steward some specific instructions... I had instructed him to fill the sacks of my eleven brothers with as much grain as possible to take back home to Canaan...I had told him as well to return their silver to them without their knowledge... He came to see me after he had done these things... He expected me to tell him that he could call my brothers so they could start on their journey home... But I was not yet ready to do so... I have one final test I want them to go through.... I believe this test will prove to me once for all whether or not they have changed since they sold me to merchants all these years ago..I gave the steward my special silver cup... He looked at me with questioning eyes...For he knows that no one... Except myself... Is allowed to touch that cup....I then told him to put that cup in the sack of my youngest brother Benjamin... I know my steward will obey my orders... Even if he does not understand my motives.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the official in charge of the grain distribution tells his steward to put his silver cup in the sack of his youngest brother Benjamin.... 

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                           PART XLI

Joseph, the "Egyptian" oficial decides his brothers need to go through one final test so he instructs his steward to put his silver cup in Benjamin's sack as you can read in Genesis 44:2

"Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the silver for his grain." And he (the steward) did as Joseph said.

The steward does exactly what the "Egyptian" official instructs him to do. He does not know why he has to put the silver cup into the sack of one of these men. However he trusts that his master knows what he is doing. Perhaps one day he will understand.

Read Part Forty-Two HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORY: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/40

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

            GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                         PART XL 

"Yesterday was such a significant day for me, the official in charge of the grain distribution here in Egypt.... For my brothers came once again before me... This time they had brought my youngest brother Benjamin with them... I released their brother Simeon, whom I had kept in prison here in Egypt since they had appeared before me a year ago... I decided to invite them to my home for lunch... During that time I tested them.... For I instructed my servant to give my youngest brother five times the amount of food compared to the others... I was so pleased to notice that none of the other brothers were upset about his preferential treatment... Perhaps their hearts have changed since they sold me to merchants these twenty-two years ago... This morning I instructed my steward to give my brothers as much grain as they can carry... I instructed him as well to return their silver to them without their knowledge... This too is a test... I have one final test in mind for them.. I believe that final test will prove to me whether or not my brothers have changed."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the official in charge of the grain distribution in Egypt tells his steward to fill the sacks of the brothers with as much grain as possible and to return their silver to them....

 

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                 GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                   PART XL 

The brothers, including Benjamin, very much enjoyed the meal that was set before them at the home of the "Egyptian" official. It was then time for some rest before they set off early the next morning for Canaan. The official makes sure that each man has been given plenty of grain to take back with him as you can read in Genesis 44:1

Now Joseph gave instruction to the steward of his house, "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry and put each man's silver in the mouth of his sack."

The "Egyptian" official wants to make sure that his family back in Canaan is well taken care of so he has his steward give the men plenty of grain. Moreover, he returns their silver to them without their knowledge to test their character.

Read Part Forty-One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/39

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A  PURPOSEFUL LIFEL OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                                                      GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                                                        PART XXXIX 

"We, the eleven sons of Jacob, were seated around the table at the home of the official in charge of the grain distribution here in Egypt...The reason we where here is because we had been invited to have luch with him....Food was being served under his direction... Every dish was delicious... We finally decided we might as well enjoy each dish as it was brought to us... So we did.... After all, we very likely will never again eat from his table... He is the official in charge of the grain distribution in Egypt... We are shepherds in Canaan... We have nothing in common with him...Once we have collected the grain we will leave for home... And we may never see him again....But we will never forget this lunch... Benjamin, in particular, will never forget this lunch... His portions were five times the size of our portions...He clearly has found favour with the official... We must tell our father that Benjamin has been so well treated by the official... He will be very pleased to hear that Benjamin has been so well treated by him... In the past that would have caused us to be jealous of Benjamin...But today we are only too pleased that he is being treated so extravagantly even though he is only the youngest of the family."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that at the lunch at the official's home Benjamin is given extra large portions of food compared to his brothers...

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                     GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                                PART XXXIX 

The sons of Jacob, including Benjamin, who have travelled all the way from Canaan to buy grain for their families, decide to enjoy the meal that they are about to have in the home of the "Egyptian" official in charge of the grain distribution as you can read in Genesis 43:34

When portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as much as anyone else's. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

The sons of Jacob notice that all the food is served from the official's table so it is of the best quality. They notice as well that, strangely, Benjamin is given a much larger portion than any of the others.

Read Part Forty HERE

 

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES: GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD P/38

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

             GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                         PART XXXVIII

"We, the eleven sons of Jacob, are quite ready for lunch... We are not really sure what kind of food we will be offered... Since we are having lunch at the home of the official in charge of the grain distribution here in Egypt...However, it has been a long time since we had our breakfast... So we will be happy to eat whatever is put before us....And we better not show any dislike for any of the dishes offered to us... No doubt, the official would learn about it.... Even though he is seated separately from us... And he would be very displeased with us... We have noticed one very unusual thing... Each one of us was seated by a servant.... And we were all seated in accordance with our ages... It seemed someone knew exactly who is the oldest in the family and who is the youngest.... We are quite perplexed about our seating arrangement.... For how could anyone know these intimate details about our family?.. We have talked with the official about our family... But we have never disclosed to him who is the eldest....He only knows who is the youngest."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the eleven brothers find themselves seated for lunch at the house of the "Egyptian" official in charge of the grain distribution in perfect order according to their ages....

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STOREIS

                                                    GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD

                                                              PART XXXVIII

The "Egyptian" official in charge of the grain distribution is seated at the table prepared for him. His guests, the sons of Jacob, including Benjamin, who have travelled all the way from Canaan to Egypt to buy grain, are seated at the table prepared for them as you can read in Genesis 43:33

The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the first born to the youngest: and they looked at each other in astonishment.

As the servants direct each of the sons of Jacob to their seats, it seems they know who is the oldest and who is the youngest.

Read Part Thirty-Nine HERE