THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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In the comic strip "PEANUTS," Linus was on his way to school with a bunch of spring flowers in his hand. Charlie Brown met him on the way to school and immediately figured out what was going on.
"Flowers for the teacher?" asked Charlie. Then he said, "Linus, you'll never get anywhere with Miss Othmar by trying to use bribery."
Linus stopped and said, "Bribery? This isn't bribery. I prefer to call it pump priming."
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Gen 43:24-34
24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.
26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?
28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.
31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
KJV
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The brothers were following the directions of their father Jacob and doing a little pump priming with the present they brought for Joseph. Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men."
There is a time when gifts are appropriate, however there is a time when a gift can become a bribe! Joseph paid no attention to the gift at all. His concern was for his father and brothers, even though they didn't know he was their brother.
But Joseph's emotions overcame him, and he had to withdraw for a moment. He couldn't let them know he was their brother yet. They had to come to a point where they were willing to accept his word.
Again, this reflects Jesus our Lord. He cares about EVERYONE. But everyone must come to a point where they are willing to accept His Word before He can be their Brother.
Notice that Joseph set them APART from the Egyptians. This was not a callous move intended to make them feel ill at ease. It was an observance of their own custom. You see, Jesus accepts us as we ARE. He does not refuse us because of our sin, but simply asks to be LORD so that He can have liberty to CLEANSE our sins.
Joseph sent a DOUBLE portion of food to Benjamin. Upon those whom Jesus knows will receive Him, He pours out "grace upon grace" until they make that decision.
It is important for us to put away our selfishness in order to receive the spiritual food that our Lord will give us.
It is important that we be willing to lay down our lives for our "brothers" and bring them to the knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Love ya,
Bruce