Jacob’s Sorrow!
Jacob’s sorrow begins when his 10 sons who hate Joseph because he is their
father’s favorite son devise an evil plan to kill him. Reuben intervened and
they put him in a dry well, when some Ishmaelite (their cousins) traders from
Midian were traveling by they sold Joseph to them. The traders sold Joseph in
Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
When Reuben found out what his brothers had done they devised
a plan to tell their father that they found Joseph’s torn and bloody tunic
(coat). Jacob assumed Joseph was killed by some wild animal and he mourned his
son and could not be comforted (Genesis 37). Because Joseph was his firstborn
son by Rachel, his true love, he suffered much in his double loss since Rachel
had died in childbirth with her second son Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-21).
Joseph was favored by GOD and even though he spent many years
in prison for his integrity GOD Blessed him. When Pharaoh had a dream that no
one could interpret Joseph was remembered as a dream interpreter, so he was
brought to Pharaoh to interpret his dream. This led to Joseph’s rise to
authority in Egypt as second only to Pharaoh. This led to Egypt not only being
prepared for the great famine but under Joseph Pharaoh became the richest ruler
in the world (Genesis 39-41, 47:13-26).
Durning the famine Jacob’s family needed grain, like everyone
else in the world so he sent his 10 sons to Egypt to but grain so they could
live. Joseph as the head of the grain distribution met with the foreigners who
came for grain and so he met and recognized his brothers, but they did not
recognize him. He treated them badly to their face but kindly through his secret
generosity (Genesis 42). Because he was accusing them of being spies he kept Simeon
as a hostage until they returned with their youngest brother, Benjamin. (Genesis
42:14-24) “But Joseph said to them, ‘It is as I spoke to you, saying “You are
spies!” In this manner you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you shall
not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you and
let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words
may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of
Pharaoh, surely you are spies!’ So he put them all together in prison for three
days. Then Joseph said to them the third day, ‘Do this and live, for I Fear GOD
(it would not be strange for them to find people who worshipped and served GOD);
if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house;
but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your
youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.’
And they did so. Then they said to one another, ‘We are truly guilty concerning
our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we
would not hear; therefore this destress has come upon us.’ And Rueben answered
them saying; ‘Did I not speak to you, saying, “Not to sin against the boy”; and
you would not listen? Therefore, behold, his blood is now required of us.’ But
they did not know that Joseph understood them,
for he spoke to them through an interpreter. And he turned himself away
from them and wept. Then he returned to them again and talked with them. And he
took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.” Joseph was testing them
looking for honesty and integrity, attributes they had not show him as a child.
They soon found out
that their money bags had been placed in their bags of grain and they grew
afraid to return so they went home and explained everything to their father. Jacob
said, “My son (Benjamin) shall not go down with you, for his brother (Joseph) is
dead, and he is left alone (except for his 10 older brothers. Jacob was still
showing preference to his sons because of their mothers; Joseph and Benjamin
were the sons of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel) (Genesis 42:25-38).
The severe famine continued and Jacob’s family needed grain
again, but Judah spoke to Jacob, “The man solemnly warned us saying, ‘You shall
not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” After much anguished discussion
Jacob agree to let Benjamin go with them. “And their father, Israel said to them,
‘If it must be so, then do this; take some of the best fruits of the land in
your vessels and carry down a present for the man – a little balm, a little
honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double money in your
hand and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of
your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and arise, go back
to the man. And may GOD Almighty give you Mercy before the man, that he may
release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved. I am bereaved!’” (to
save his family Jacob was ready to lose another son) (Genesis 43:11-14).
Jacob, as his sons, were paying the price of their lack of
integrity and mercy. Did GOD cause this famine to judge Jacob and his family as
well as the rest of the world for their sins? Genesis 8:20-21, “Then Noah built
an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird
and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And The LORD smelled a soothing aroma.
Then The LORD said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s
sake, although the imagination (intent or thought) of man’s heart is evil from
his youth; nor will I again destroy
every living thing as I have done.’” 2 Chronicles 7:12-15 “Then The LORD
appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: ‘I have heard your prayer and
have chosen this place for Myself as a House of Sacrifice. When I shut up heaven
and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send
pestilence among My People, if My People who are Called by My Name will Humble
themselves , and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My
eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” Yes, The
GOD of Creation Who Controls Everything and Judges all Humanity tries us and Judges
us however He wants to get our attention so that we repent and return to Him!
If you know this story you know that Joseph tests his
brothers one more time before revealing himself to them. They are reunited and
then Jacob and his whole tribe come to Egypt where Joseph is the second leading
man in all the land, fulfilling his dreams as a youth (Genesis 43-50).
The moral of Jacobs life is that GOD will Bless His Call on
your life; even if you have sin in your life to fulfill His Purpose; we see
this throughout the Bible, GOD in his Love is always provoking us to repentance!
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