Title: Jacob's Abandonment
Contents
A lot of time has passed since Joseph's brothers returned home from buying grain. Now the grain I bought was gradually running out. It is written that “there was a severe famine in the land” (1). The word ‘severe’ shows that the situation is difficult to bear. Many beasts and people probably starved to death everywhere. Then, finally, his father Jacob spoke first. He tells him to go and buy some food. Then Judas said to his father,
How many of the sons of Jacob were Judah? It's the fourth. Then, why do all the brothers go and Judas speak on behalf of them? The eldest son Reuben spoke first in chapter 42, and then he spoke to his father and only cursed. The second Simeon was held hostage in Egypt, and the third Levi was slaughtered with a sword, so he lost his trust in Ah. So that's what Judas said.
According to the Bible, Judas always works to save people. Earlier, when his brothers tried to kill Joseph, Judas saved Joseph's life by telling the merchants to sell him instead of killing him. Judas has always lived a life dedicated to saving someone. That is why Jesus came as a descendant of Judah from among the 12 tribes of Israel. Like Judas, I hope that you will always be used to save and save others.
On behalf of his brothers, Judas repeats that he must bring Benjamin back to Egypt to buy grain. At this, the father is rather angry. In a nutshell, ‘Why are you making it hard for me to be honest?’ Now, this is not something a father would say to his child. What we can see here is the image of an irresponsible father who shifts all responsibility to his children.
If you are a father, rather than actively trying to solve problems like a father, as you have always lived, you are always passive, negative, making excuses, getting angry, and rather resenting your children. We are reminded again of the role of the father. There is this saying. Through whom do children see the world? The father is the channel through which the children see the world.
Now that the father comes out so cowardly, the sons can't stand it anymore, so they say (7) in a nutshell, 'If he hadn't asked in such detail, we wouldn't even have said such a thing'. Now, the hearts of the brothers were also frustrated.
The question here is, why is this strange thing happening in this family now? is to do Jacob's son is taken hostage, he unexpectedly asks him to bring his youngest brother, and now he is running out of food. This situation is completely unexpected. It was something I never thought of, and no one intended. But suddenly these things happen. So are we. As we go through life, things that we never thought of and that we did not expect happen. A person suddenly collapses in the house, is driven to the brink of bankruptcy, and sometimes difficulties come to the family. Now, what do we do when something completely unexpected happens all of a sudden? How should I take it? At that time, I didn't complain about what was right or wrong, who did it for, or why it happened. You need to quickly realize that there is God's intention in such a thing. It is no one's fault that it happened. It just happened that way. So, instead of fighting over who is responsible or who is at fault, we must discover the intention of the Lord hidden within.
Last Sunday afternoon, we attended a lecture with the head of the Father/Mother School. Looking at their present form, it looks great, but they also have had a crisis of divorce in the past. When a crisis came to the family, if they quarreled with each other for good or bad and fought persistently saying it's your fault, they don't exist today. When such a crisis comes, you must realize it quickly and be able to see the hand of the Lord.
Since the father is delaying his responsibilities again, Judas persuades his father in verse 9 by saying, “I will protect my brother with my life. Looking at the determination of Judas, what kind of person do we need in today's Korean society and the Korean church? You need someone who will take responsibility until the end.
It is not the right attitude to do what one wants to do and not take responsibility.
Who is a true leader? The person in charge is the leader. A leader is a person who takes responsibility, not a worker. Also, in order to take responsibility, it is possible to have a sense of ownership first. Guests are not responsible. Also, like Judas, there is nothing impossible if you risk your life. When you go to seminary, you can use a brush in a large frame next to the entrance to ‘Loyalty’ even when you study, you are told to die. When I was studying in the US, people who went to the emergency room 1-2 times while studying for a doctoral program are different from those who don't. I hope your life is like this too.
When Judah hears that he is risking his life for his brother, Jacob says:
‘You shall bring the beautiful produce of this land and make a gift to that person… .'
Here the father sends his sons, not empty-handed. He also prepares and sends a gift to help his sons deal with their problems. And they tell you to take all the money you put in last time, and bring it twice as it might cause an issue.
Here, we see two aspects through Jacob who prepares a gift. 1) Using materials to melt the other person. This is not the first time this has been done. When he met his brother Esau again, he sent 500 many animals as gifts. why? Because they depended on money rather than God. Again, this time using the same method.
What you can see from this figure is that although he believed in Jesus, Jacob's way was still worldly and human. The way you deal with people is the same as before or now.
These days, if you look at newspapers, it is noisy that the politicians paid 50,000 USD or not. When I was at work, my job was to visit small and medium-sized enterprises and conduct due diligence, and I meet the business representatives and talk about this and that. However, for those who still remember, the company gave them a cradle of their church when they broke up. When I go to visit, there are many houses that do not even have a church calendar, but it is not usually a passionate person that he is putting his church cradle in his office, not his own house. At least an elder. . So I got it because it was a given book, but the moment I received it, it felt a little dollar, and I put a sealed envelope between the bookmarks. Even if you go to church for a long time and live your life of faith for a long time, even if your position is short, it is of no use if the way of life does not change. Also, if you live too close to the world, the way of the world comes out unconsciously even in the church.
Also, looking at the conversations so far, Jacob never said to his sons, 'Before you meet that person, pray.' The Lord will lead you, and the Lord's will.
In this way, Jacob's life resembles the typical human with desires, fears, and our lives as human beings with faith.
2) Sending many gifts means that Jacob is anxious. When you choose God, fear disappears. But if you don't trust in God, you become insecure. If you are anxious, you will use human methods
In this way, when Jacob sent his sons away, he was afraid and negative thoughts prevailed, but he still held on to God at the most decisive moment.
The end of 14 “If you lose your children, you will lose them.” This is the turning point of Jacob's life.
Benjamin, who had been unable to give up, now opens his hands and entrusts it to God. He has done everything like this before, but now he realizes that he cannot do it with human effort, and entrusts his life to God's providence.
What is Faith? Faith is not about gaining something, it is about giving up. is to throw it away. You cannot have money and God at the same time. You have to give up money to see God. If you try to catch both, you end up losing both.
Why is it difficult to believe in Jesus? Why is the life of faith difficult? It's because they haven't given up on Et people yet. Giving up is very difficult.
Would it be easy for Jacob to let his beloved Benjamin go?
It's going to last until the very end. If you keep holding on, it will only get harder.
Also, from God's point of view, God drove Jacob to a corner where he had to surrender. So, what is holding on to Jacob who says this saying, 'If you lose your children, you will lose them'? Not desperation, but God's grace holding him back. Because of Eunhei, I was able to give up my children.
So is Joseph. What made a humble slave prime minister, what he captured during the ordeal, what protected him from many enemies? It is God's grace.
Likewise, it is possible because of God's grace that we are able to come to church at this hour today. How often do you go these days?
Also, what we will learn here is that if you want your purpose/will to be realized, you must long for God's grace. It was the grace of God that made Joseph Joseph.
Why should we seek grace first?
When grace comes, opportunity is given.
When grace comes, trials turn into blessings
It is only with grace that I can meet good people and prepare the stage for my activities.
Another thing, each of you now have a plan, whether it be business, work, study or whatever, you are still preparing, planning, and working on something. However, anyone can start doing this. But just because I started it, I can't guarantee it will be finished.
In other words, the help of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary to complete the work I am doing. But the world starts with my own hands and I try to complete it. This is the difference between worldly and Christian success.
Please remember that God's work begins with the Holy Spirit and ends with the Holy Spirit.
There was God's grace in Joseph's life, but there was also the walk of the Holy Spirit.
Likewise, we pray that you will be those who long for God's grace while always welcoming and relying on the Holy Spirit to accomplish our assigned tasks.