[Discoveries] 04-07-08 A test for Jacob -- Genesis 42:38

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

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/*But Jacob said, "My son [Benjamin] 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." -- Genesis 42:38*/

Jacob lost his favorite wife. He lost his favorite son. Now it looked 
like he might lose Benjamin as well.

Abraham offered Isaac on the altar to God. As you know, Abraham received 
his son back unharmed. But he had no way of knowing how that sacrifice 
would play out when he and his son hiked to the top of Mount Moriah.

As circumstances he could not control descended upon him, Jacob was 
being asked to give away the last precious connection he had with his 
beloved Rachel, his remaining son from that marriage.

He refused to do it. He delayed. He stalled. But, in the end, he had no 
choice. He stood at the entrance to his tent and watched Benjamin slowly 
walk away until he was nothing but a speck on the horizon under the 
midmorning sun. No doubt years of sorrow welled up in his heart, and 
anxious thoughts flooded his mind.

But this is the miracle of the Christian life. Only when we give away 
what we cannot keep, does God give us the blessing that we thought we 
would never have.

Jacob had no way of knowing that he would get back not only Benjamin, 
but his long lost Joseph. And now, he would have what he never had 
before, twelve sons who respected and honored one another.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


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