Jacob was extremely troubled
by the risk of losing Benjamin, whose mother had died giving birth to him. It's
understandable that Jacob would be protective of Benjamin since he had been
forced to come to terms with having lost Benjamin's brother Joseph some years earlier. Now Jacob
was forced to trust his older sons to safeguard Benjamin as they traveled to
Egypt to buy grain.
Arriving in Egypt, they were invited to
a luncheon with Joseph, where Benjamin, Joseph’s full-brother, was the guest of
honor. Once again, the money paid for the grain was put back into their bags along
with Joseph’s special silver cup. Benjamin would later be accused of stealing
this cup.
Seeking
reconciliation is a delicate undertaking. Imagine Joseph thinking that he had one chance
to unite his family, made up of the ten jealous brothers who hated him. God calls
us to reconcile with whomever has wronged us. God is aware of and patient with
our resistance, knowing we’re stressed out with fear and anxiety, yet he continues
to push us toward reconciliation and new beginnings. Your spiritual health and
clear conscience depend on it.
__________________________
For the Holy
Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise
and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.
~2 Timothy 1:7 The
Living Bible
There is no room
in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a
fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in
love.
~1 John 4:18 The Message
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