| Subject: Genesis 42 vss 36-38 Post 198 |
Author:
Hillbilly
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 19:10:10 05/08/12 Tue
Genesis 42:36-38 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. 37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. 38 And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
Satan has long ago discovered the best way to mess up God's plans is to destroy the family. The family is the first institution given on earth. Husband, wife and children in a bond of love and trust. This is the way God intended it so Satan has worked since the Garden of Eden to destroy the family. Through a little over 2,000 years from the Garden you can see the evidence he has not stopped. . He got Cain to kill his brother Abel. He worked hard to get Sarah to give Hagar to Abraham to raise children out of the will of God. The battle royal has always been to stop the "promised seed". (Gen. 3:15). Before the flood Satan worked out a master plan that would corrupt all the seed. He moved on his army of fallen angels to take the daughters of men and raise up corrupted seed to intermingle and mix with with the seed of Adam. (Gen. 6.)
While little was revealed early on as to where the promised seed would come from Satan had rightfully focused on the men whom God chose. Starting with Noah, after the flood, he worked through Noah's affinity for wine. Noah got drunk and seeing opportunity and knowing the nature of Ham he worked on Ham to commit abomination with his father while he was drunk.. Abraham came along and God called him to the land of Canaan to raise up seed that would be faithful to God. Sarah tried to help and got Abraham to obtain a son out of God's will. With the casting away of Ishmael and raising up of Isaac it was easy for Satan to spot the chosen line. Isaac almost messed up with the Philistines by saying that Rebekah was his sister instead of his wife following the example of Abraham in Egypt. God intervened and Isaac was spared. Soon Esau and Jacob came along. Jealousy was prevalent and Satan moved Jacob to steal and put the desire of murder in the heart of Esau. Jacob escaped death by fleeing to Laban where he married Laban's two daughters. Anyone reading the story of Leah, Rachel and their handmaids knows that this was not what God intended. Jacob is given 12 sons and now Satan has to try to find the one whom God would choose to be in the line of the promised seed. As we read the history of these sons we readily see that all were lacking in many respects as to character.
This short synopsis brings us to the current verses under our scrutiny. We see Jacob bewailing what has befallen him and we see something that really is not pretty. Jacob's concern is for himself and three of his children and if the truth be known the concern is mostly over one that he is heartbroken about, and that is Joseph. Joseph is gone and Simeon is gone and Jacob is counting him as dead because this "fierce ruler" in Egypt had demanded they not return without Benjamin. Jacob was not about to let him go down there so would just give up Simeon.
In the scene we also see something else. Notice who he blames. "Me have ye bereaved of my children:". Jacob does not blame himself for sending Joseph to his brothers in the first place yet it was no one else that told Joseph to go. Jacob did not know at this time what the ten sons had done to Joseph. He only believed he had been killed by a wild animal. Human nature often turns nasty when things are not going the way we want them to. Jacob cries out; "All these things are against me". "Hey, Jacob; wake up and smell the coffee". "Look how many other of your family are in dire straits and all you can think of is your loss." Jacob's narcissistic attitude is showing itself again. Just as he took advantage of Esau's weakness when he was famished and just as he stole his birthright he is only thinking of himself again.
Human nature can be a very ugly thing at times and Jacob's "pity party" comes to the top as he feels trapped by his situation.. His wailing and moaning and refusal to send Benjamin prompts Reuben to step up to the plate. "Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again." "Gee Reuben, that's mighty noble of you. Offering your sons to be killed! Why don't you set yourself as a ransom? Don't have the guts for that." As I said, sometimes seemingly hopeless situations bring out the worst in people when it should bring out the best. At times like these you would think the family would come together in one accord and put selfish desires to the side. I can't imagine someone so base as to be willing to see his sons put to death if his mission failed.
All of the sons' persuasions fall on deaf ears and Jacob will not relent. He would rather, at this point, face want and hunger including the starvation of his family and herds rather than give in and take a chance on losing Benjamin. In his eyes that one son was worth more than all his others.
Contrast this with our Father in heaven. He gave His only begotten son for us. Jesus was and is worth more than every person ever born yet God was willing to give up His son that other's might live. Some might see a similarity between Reuben and God in this matter. Not so. Reuben was betting the lives of his two sons that he would safely deliver Benjamin. Jesus was God manifest in flesh. He gave himself a willing sacrifice. No one made Him do it. John 10:18 No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
|
Feedback: 
dori
