Pages from my Journal: Morning Devotional thought early 2014

Penned 5 February 2014

While paging through my journal I stumbled upon my notes from a morning devotion I had last year. The beauty of a journal: one can reflect on past experiences which come back to bless you.

Devotional thought on Gen. 43:11-13

Brief background

Simeon, the son of Jacob and the brother of Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt during the time of famine. This was when Simeon and his brothers had gone to Egypt form Canaan in order to buy food. 

• In order for Simeon to be returned to his family, the deal was that Benjamin, Jacobs youngest son, had to be brought to Egypt. This is the condition upon which Simeon was to be redeemed. Jacob considered & treated Benjamin, his last born, as his only son. At first, when the deal was made, Jacob fully refused to let them take Benjamin. After having already faced the pain of "losing" Joseph who was his last born then, he didn't want the experience again the grief he would suffer if Benjamin were to die (Gen, 42:38). 
• Eventually "the famine was sore in the land" (Gen. 43:1), so bad that Jacob eventually agreed to give Benjamin in order to redeem Simeon, knowing very well that there was a possibility that he may not return alive (if he even returns at all).

"And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry [it] again in your hand; peradventure it [was] an oversight: Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:" Genesis 43:11-13

•  When Jacob eventually agreed to give Benjamin, Jacob gave also the best gifts that he had of fruit, spices, honey, nuts, and twice as much money as required in order to get food from Egypt. He gave the very best of these in order to increase the likelihood of redeeming his son Simeon. Jacob gave not only beloved son Benjamin, but added also the bests gifts, so that the "Egyptian" may be more favoured to releasing Simeon. If Jacob had more gifts to give (in spite of the raging famine that was in the land), it is very likely that Jacob would have given more. Now note: 

"Like as a father pities [his] children, [so] the LORD pities them that fear him."  Psalms 103:13 

• The same way Jacob, faced with the dilemma of possibly losing both his children, loves and pities his sons, in the same way God pities His children. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32

• God, in giving Jesus Christ, His son, gave the greatest of gifts which He had to give, and more than that, He does not spare any other thing necessary in order that mankind may be saved. He risked the grief of losing His only Son in order to save us. Now, if He did not hold back His Son in order to redeem me, there is therefore no good thing that He would withhold if it be that that thing would be to the benefit of ones salvation. 
• God, in Christ, gave everything necessary  to even make the times and place of our individual lives such as would have us most favourable to seeking after Him and thus being saved from sin (Acts 17;26-27). If Jesus could have, He would have given more than what He already did, if so be that that gift would be mold our characters like as His own. 
• The love Jacob had for Benjamin, and the great value he placed on him as a gift, is not more than a glimpse of the great love that God the Father has for Christ. The value He has placed on us is shown in how willing He was to give of Christ in order to redeem us. 
• NOTE: To redeem Simeon, Jacob had no other alternative Likewase, apart from the gift & sacrifice of Christ, there was no other means by which mankind could be saved. God would honour no other alternative. 

If God went to this extent in order to buy back an unworthy race, where then is cause for doubt of whether He will receive us? Did He not pay for us? What then will he not give us if it be that we ask in order to glorify His name and reflect His very character?