Gen. 42:25-3525Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. 26And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. 27And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth. 28And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us? 29And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying, 30The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: 32We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. 33And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone: 34And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land. 35And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. (Genesis 42:25‑35)
“Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way:... And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.” vv. 25,26.
In drawing us near Himself, the Lord does not employ the means we would always anticipate. One who has known something of material comforts may say: “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad,” and perhaps think such an expression has drawn him nearer to the Lord. But (although it is well to recognize the Lord’s hand in daily mercies) this in itself is a dangerous place on which to rest or to quiet the conscience, for comfortable surroundings have a tendency to dull the soul. Joseph was not content to introduce himself to his brethren merely as the provider of their sustenance and place them in comfortable quietness of spirit, when he well knew what was needed to restore them—genuine exercise of heart, deep probing’s of conscience, and confession of their wicked ways against God and the brother whom they had rejected. All who would draw near to Christ, the “true Joseph” whether Jew or Gentile, can do so only on the same principles before there can be any true relationship with God or communion with Him. The Lord will not reveal Himself to any heart that is not morally right with Him, but He does seek to win the heart that is exercised by deep trial. Such, too, was Joseph’s divinely appointed way with his erring brethren.
Retaining Simeon in prison, he sent the others on their way home. “And as one of them opened his sack) to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. And he I said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying One to another, What is this that God hath done unto us.” vv. 27-28.
It was a very sad company that returned to Canaan, when, upon opening their sacks, every man found his money returned. All the story was recounted to the perplexed father who joined in their fears at the circumstances confronting them. They had been sincere enough in making payment for the food they purchased, but their money had been refused! Rough threats and accusations had been the reply to their statements concerning themselves; Simeon had been bound before their eyes and cast into prison; they had been instructed to bring Benjamin with them on their return, else they would receive no more food and their very lives would be in jeopardy! What could it all mean? The ways of love and faithfulness were working for their good, but they could not yet understand it.
ML 07/30/1967