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Jacob's son's make back home to present their father with the bad news that concerns Simeon and Benjamin? "The man who is over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on land. "But we said to them: 'We are honest men; we are not spies. We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.' "Then the man who is lord over the land said to us: 'This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me; and take food for your starving households and go. "But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you; and you can trade in the land.'" Wow! What a moment this was for Jacob? I can imagine him having a look of astonishment and disappointment on his face while his son's were telling him about the things that had taken place while they were down in Egypt. I wouldn't be surprise if Jacob at this point, had rendered his son's in his mind to be completely incompetent? But this wouldn't be all, when it came to the disturbing surprises that his sons were springing on him all of a sudden? For the surprise that happens next, would cause Jacob to become very afraid: "As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of sliver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened." (Genesis 42:35) Keep in mind that Jacob sons had already knew about the money pouches, for they had discovered the money pouches after they had stopped to rest, while they were making their way back home from Egypt. Now perhaps, after they had saw how concerned and fearful their father was, the fear they once experienced, had return. So, it was at this point that Jacob would just lose his composure; and because of this, he tells his sons how he really feels about the situation: "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more; and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!" Here we find Jacob a God fearing man, a man who has had the privilege to meet with the Lord on numerous occasions, a man who God Himself confirmed personally to him, that he was the new promise bearer of the Abrahamic Covenant and that great things were going to be done through him and his seed. We now benefit from the advantage that the Sacred Scriptures brings us? For we are now able to get a glimpse into Jacob's mind and heart; and because of this advantage, we are able to see first hand his battle that deals with him on two levels when it comes to his mentality and spiritual state? For what we see on one level, is Jacob's battle when it comes to staying strong in his faith and maintaining a peace of mind, and on the other level, we are able to see him having doubts about his overall purpose and running into danger when it comes to being shackled by his season of suffering that was created from the lost of his son Joseph and the potential loss of his youngest son Benjamin? Is this different from us today, here in the 21st century? Here we have a man who obeys and loves his God and has witness first hand the power and the gifts of provision, mercy and grace that the Almighty has bestowed on him; and yet -- he suffers. Understand that Jacob is gifted in so many ways and God hasused him on so many different occasions, and yet -- Jacob isstill affected by this natural world. For we must remember that although Jacob has the honor and privilege to have his name and life recorded in the Sacred Scriptures, he is still human just like us. These events aren't in some far away fairytale place, and everything is just peachy? No! These Sacred Scriptures and the author of them, which is God Almighty; are intertwined with everything that deals with life -- spiritually and naturally. We are fortunate to be able to have a record of such, for the Sacred Scriptures allows us to be able to see how God moves and interacts with us in the natural, and not just in the spiritual. We are seeing how God is laying the foundation for the next phase that deals with the greatness that He had promised Jacob; his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham who had came before him. But now, Jacob seems to have lost sight of that path, for he has allowed himself to be blinded by this thing called life. We too, also have promises, gifts and talents that God has bestowed on us as well, it's important that we must not forget these important facts. Just because we can't see the path of greatness that God has for each and everyone of us, does not mean that it isn't there, for it is. Our job is to keep believing and continue to operate in the gifts and talents that God has bestowed on us; while being good stewards of the things and tasks that He has placed before us. It's clear that Jacob doesn't trust his sons and his faith has been shaken. With Jacob being in this type of mindset and by his heart quickly filling up with pain and sorrow, the question is still without an answer: "Will he let Benjamin go back to Egypt with his brothers?" For Benjamin is the last child of his late wife Rachel, the woman that he loved with all his heart; and with her other child Joseph, who is presumed to be dead, what will he do if Benjamin too, is also taken away from him? After all the Lord has done for him, has Jacob finally been forsaken by this same God?
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt 86) Joseph the Revealer of Secrets 88) The Seven Years of Abundance 90) Joseph the Egyptian Prime Minister 91) Joseph the Temptation of Revenge 93) The Confessions of the Ten Tribes 95) <-CURRENT PAGE->  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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