Note: Devotional taken from last Sunday's sermon on Genesis 43.
And God Almighty give you mercy… (Genesis 43:14).
Perhaps the greatest theme in the record of Joseph (Genesis chapters
37—50) is providence, but a key subtheme is reconciliation, both vertical (men
with their God) and, especially, horizontal (among men).
Four straight chapters are devoted to this theme in its account
of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers (Genesis 42-43-44-45), and it even
reappears in the final chapter, as the brothers fear Joseph’s retribution when
their father dies (see 50:20).
Genesis 42 ended with a cliffhanger. There is a terrible
famine. Simeon is being held hostage. Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt.
Genesis 43 continues and advances the record of holy history
relaying how Jacob/Israel finally relented in the face of terrible famine to
send his precious son Benjamin with his remaining sons to Egypt. He did so with
a prayer for them, “And God Almighty [El Shaddai] give you mercy before
the man….” (43:14a).
Israel continues in v. 14b, offering up his resignation to
the circumstances: “If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” Sometimes
men today say, “It’s going to be what it’s going to be.” This sounds like the Doris
Day song “Whatever will be, will be” from the classic Hitchcock film The Man
Who Knew Too Much. It’s hard to discern whether this is a sentiment which
Moses commends as a godly response or whether it is a sign of Jacob’s spiritual
weakness. No matter, all things are indeed in the Lord’s hands.
Maybe some hearing this today may think they are in a similar
situation. If so, we are called to offer up our circumstances to the just
judgements of an all-wise God and pray for his mercy for all involved.
God heard Israel’s prayer. When the brothers arrived in Egypt,
Joseph welcomed them to his home (43:17). His steward washed their feet
(43:24). And Joseph spread a table and “set on bread” for them (43:31-32).
Joseph might be seen again as a type for Christ. We can reasonably
see in Joseph’s gracious reception of his brothers what the Lord does for every
believer. He meets our prayer for mercy with mercy. He welcomes us into his household,
ministers to us, and spreads a table before us.
May God Almighty give us mercy.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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