Genesis 43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
Yes Friends, may Peace be also with you, and be not afraid! Isn’t it wonderfully amazing when those words are spoken over us, how we feel relieved, like a balloon being slowly deflated, like a wave of calm gently washing over us? That is our God’s doing people! And note, in the Bit, it’s not a Hebrew servant speaking those words of Peace. From the start of Joseph’s sojourn in Egypt, all those around him, even Pharaoh, could see the hand of the Most High God moving in his favour, and consequently allied themselves with him. It’s marvellous when unbelievers recognize a higher power moving in tandem with us! Yes Friends, that is what brings glory to God’s name! And Joseph certainly had that aura of a spiritual being working with and through him. So now, poor Jacob’s eleven children leave him bereft of offspring in Canaan and go down to Egypt to stand before the twelfth. Ah people, only our God can orchestrate such coincidence! When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, his heart must have leapt for joy. He immediately tells his butler to take them to his house and prepare lunch, as they would eat with him. But like all of us, who either have a guilty conscience, or just can’t fathom God’s goodness in our lives, the brethren are scared stiff, thinking that due to the money found in their bags, Joseph was now seeking a reason to confiscate their stuff and turn them into bond servants. The Lord must have looked upon them, shaken His head and sadly muttered; ‘O ye of little faith!’ Like He often does with us nuh, when He reaches out to bless us, but we’re too afraid to take the step of faith necessary to receive it. Anyway, they ‘communed’ with the servant at the entrance to Joseph’s house, explaining that they didn’t know how the money got in their sacks, but they’d brought it back. That’s when the servant said, ‘Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.’ Simeon must have been locked up in Joseph’s house. But what intrigues me is that the servant, most likely an Egyptian, is speaking in such rich, glowing terms of our God. Either Joseph explicitly taught him, or through constant association, it gradually assimilated into the servant’s consciousness. What’s important though, is that he knew of God, and His all-prevailing power. Praise His Holy Name people! But the next question is, do we give off that godly vibe? Do others get a sense of spiritual well-being when they interact with us? It’s important that they do, if we present ourselves as followers of Christ. We must talk, look and act the part. With those words of reassurance, the butler takes them into the house, where they refresh themselves and wait for Joseph. When he comes, they give him the present, ‘and bowed themselves to him to the earth.’ (vs.26) The Word doesn’t say it, but no doubt, every time they made obeisance to Joseph, he must have felt a little twitch of pride, of vindication, nothing malicious, just a touch of self-satisfaction, considering how they’d scorned him and laughed off his boyhood dream. Positive proof Friends, that with our omnipotent God, making a dream come true, is child’s play. Much LOVE!…dream big dreams…God LOVES a big dreamer…
Yes Friends, may Peace be also with you, and be not afraid! Isn’t it wonderfully amazing when those words are spoken over us, how we feel relieved, like a balloon being slowly deflated, like a wave of calm gently washing over us? That is our God’s doing people! And note, in the Bit, it’s not a Hebrew servant speaking those words of Peace. From the start of Joseph’s sojourn in Egypt, all those around him, even Pharaoh, could see the hand of the Most High God moving in his favour, and consequently allied themselves with him. It’s marvellous when unbelievers recognize a higher power moving in tandem with us! Yes Friends, that is what brings glory to God’s name! And Joseph certainly had that aura of a spiritual being working with and through him. So now, poor Jacob’s eleven children leave him bereft of offspring in Canaan and go down to Egypt to stand before the twelfth. Ah people, only our God can orchestrate such coincidence! When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, his heart must have leapt for joy. He immediately tells his butler to take them to his house and prepare lunch, as they would eat with him. But like all of us, who either have a guilty conscience, or just can’t fathom God’s goodness in our lives, the brethren are scared stiff, thinking that due to the money found in their bags, Joseph was now seeking a reason to confiscate their stuff and turn them into bond servants. The Lord must have looked upon them, shaken His head and sadly muttered; ‘O ye of little faith!’ Like He often does with us nuh, when He reaches out to bless us, but we’re too afraid to take the step of faith necessary to receive it. Anyway, they ‘communed’ with the servant at the entrance to Joseph’s house, explaining that they didn’t know how the money got in their sacks, but they’d brought it back. That’s when the servant said, ‘Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.’ Simeon must have been locked up in Joseph’s house. But what intrigues me is that the servant, most likely an Egyptian, is speaking in such rich, glowing terms of our God. Either Joseph explicitly taught him, or through constant association, it gradually assimilated into the servant’s consciousness. What’s important though, is that he knew of God, and His all-prevailing power. Praise His Holy Name people! But the next question is, do we give off that godly vibe? Do others get a sense of spiritual well-being when they interact with us? It’s important that they do, if we present ourselves as followers of Christ. We must talk, look and act the part. With those words of reassurance, the butler takes them into the house, where they refresh themselves and wait for Joseph. When he comes, they give him the present, ‘and bowed themselves to him to the earth.’ (vs.26) The Word doesn’t say it, but no doubt, every time they made obeisance to Joseph, he must have felt a little twitch of pride, of vindication, nothing malicious, just a touch of self-satisfaction, considering how they’d scorned him and laughed off his boyhood dream. Positive proof Friends, that with our omnipotent God, making a dream come true, is child’s play. Much LOVE!…dream big dreams…God LOVES a big dreamer…
SCRIP-BITS 