While Joseph was busy revealing the jaw-dropping news of who he was to his astonished brothers, their father Jacob was back home in Canaan, unaware that he was on the cusp of a life-changing event. He’d been forced to send his youngest son, Benjamin, with his brothers to return to Egypt for more food. It wasn’t his idea – Joseph insisted they bring their youngest brother when they returned. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t see his face. Ugh.
Jacob was distraught at the thought of losing another son. Yet, if he didn’t let Benjamin go, everyone would starve. With dreaded reluctance, he prepared a package for the “difficult man” in Egypt. He told them to include money for the grains they would receive and return the mysterious cash they found in their sacks when they came home the first time.
Jacob never saw a sign, felt a shift, or had a dream. He did feel God was against him, but because of the circumstances’ severity, he bowed to God’s will, stating, “If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” And off the men went.
Jacob sat at home fearfully waiting for their swift return. Jacob had done one of the most difficult things of his life – letting go of the surviving son of the deceased love of his life, Rachel. Joseph, Rachel’s first child, was gone, and he was determined not to let Benjamin go. He tried to hang on to him, but if he and his brood were to be sustained, he would have to do the unthinkable. And then wait to see the outcome. He hoped for the best (Benjamin returned, the “difficult man” accepting the gifts and the family sustained again during the famine), but he would have to wait. Oh, the wait.
We don’t know how long the brothers were gone. We can imagine what was going through Jacob’s head. But after an incredibly difficult wait, one day, he looked up, and there were his sons, Benjamin included. Oh, the story they shared. With wagons and donkeys burdened with the good things of Egypt alongside them, they said, “Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” Jacob didn’t believe them! Excitedly, they repeated everything Joseph shared with them. After taking it all in, he added, “It is enough: Joseph, my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
God will, sometimes, force us to do/say/be/present/walk through difficult spaces and relinquish what we hold near and dear. And more often than we care to admit, sometimes, we squeeze tighter on the thing/job/person/situation that God is saying to release. But we can take heart from God’s challenge to Jacob. Let go of your Benjamin, and allow Him to reveal His purpose behind the release.
21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. Genesis 45:21-26 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)