[Discoveries] 04-06-08 Punishment -- Genesis 42:21

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished ... " -- 
Genesis 42:21*/

Joseph's ten brothers didn't understand what was going on. They thought 
this would be a simple trip: Go to Egypt; buy grain. But suddenly they 
were caught in the middle of something that didn't make sense. They were 
accused of a capital offense. They were thrown in jail. Now one of them 
was to be held long term as a hostage.

They reasoned that they were being punished. How can you account for it 
any other way?

But were they being punished?

No. They were being rescued.

It isn't hard to see that they were being rescued from seven years of 
famine. That was why God sent Joseph to Egypt -- to rescue his father's 
family from starvation.

But there was more. They were being rescued from the envy that caused 
them to sell their brother, and from the hard heartedness that closed 
their ears to his cries.

The brothers thought they would get rid of favoritism when they sold 
Joseph into slavery. But they did not. Benjamin quickly took Joseph's 
place as the favorite in the family. Was that fair? No. Was that right? 
No. But God was putting the question to them, how were they going to 
handle it?

Now that they were in Egypt, God was setting up a test for the brothers 
through Joseph. God would soon arrange for it to be within their power 
for them to leave Benjamin behind in Egypt. They could get rid of 
another "favorite," and blame it on someone else. What would they do?

We all know the story. The test revealed that God had done some 
important work in the hearts of these brothers. They weren't the same 
men who sold their brother into slavery.

Look around you. All around, you will find people struggling with every 
kind of test. It's very easy to assume that they are being punished. But 
let me suggest a different possibility. Could it be that these tests are 
meant to reveal the work of God?

Be encouraged!
Dwight

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