THROUGH THE BIBLE COMMENTARY
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears.
Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
GENESIS
CHAPTER 44
1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
One can see here that the steward was knowledgeable of the plot Joseph was using
to capture his brothers and eventually bring the whole family to Egypt.
Friends, you and I ought to see the plan God has to bring the human race to
salvation, and we oughta become involved in it!
4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.
Now, when they were caught, it seems that they were quite ready to declare innocence.
None of them would think of stealiing in a foreign land, so they were confident that
nothing could be found. Seems as though they wouldn't have been so quick to make such a proposition as they did; especially remembering what happened last time.
Jacob himself had made such a rash statement when Laban had overtakne him and his
family. But God protected Jacob then, and now God has other plans for these men.
10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
When the chalice was found in Benjamin's pack, the Bible says "they tore their clothes."
This was an outward sign of inward anguish. Each one of them is quite willing to return,
because they have been shown to be "deceivers."
Guess it kinda runs in the family huh?
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
Notice how many times they have "bowed" down before Joseph! The dreams he had have come true.
15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
Now, when accused, they admitted their fault, though they really had no part in COMMITTING it. Friends, one day we'll ALL stand accused before the Lord, and we will not be able to say that we have not DONE the sins of which we are accused.
Judah offers bondage for all.
But Joseph says, "no - only the one who is found GUILTY shall be judged."
Again, let me say, we are ALL guilty before God. And He will not judge us according
to OTHERS, but according to our OWN sins!
18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
Judah obtains a private consultation with Joseph, and requests to be kept instead of
Benjamin. This is worthy action. Especially since it comes from the head of the tribe
from which our Saviour was born.
Notice how Judah states that the life of Jacob is "bound up" in the life of Benjamin.
Judah sure has a good understanding of the situation. He knows that his father would be
devastated if Benjamin did not return.
We must realize that though Judah does not LIKE the situation, he surely loves his father
and wants to protect him - even to the point of giving his own life.
Christians should be willing to give up SELF in order to help a brother or sister
in Christ.
Folks, sometimes we aren't lovely. Sometimes we act in ways unbecoming a child of God.
But when we do, we should STILL LOVE each other enough to sacrifice for each other.
How many times have you seen churches split apart because one person would not forgive another person.
He has seen and witnessed the fact that his father has given MORE GRACE to this younger brother. He knows that this is wrong, but he is willing to give his life ANYWAY!! When others treat you wrong in church, are you willing to LOVE them and FORGIVE them, and GIVE YOURSELF for them? Christ KNEW your evil state of sinfulness when He willingly gave Himself on the cross for you (Rom. 5:8).
There's a lot more to being a church family than just having the pleasantries of
worship and fellowship. There is GIVING and TAKING and LOVING one another ANYWAY!
Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.