Genesis 43:15-34 “A Feast for Brothers”

“The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. ‘It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,’ they said. ‘He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.’”
Genesis 43:18 (NLT)

Fear is a strange thing. Most of what we fear never happens, yet people have a propensity to be afraid. We worry about the “what ifs”. There is a reason why the Lord often told people, “Fear not.”

Both Jacob and his sons were afraid of what would happen when they went back to Egypt to get more grain. The lord of the land (Joseph) had treated them harshly the first time, accusing them of being spies, and withholding Simeon from them. He demanded that they bring their brother Benjamin if they wanted to see Simeon again. We understand how this would be intimidating. To make matters worse, all the money they brought to buy grain the first time was put back into their sacks. Who would have done such a thing? Behind all of this fear was their nagging guilt over selling Joseph as a slave twenty-two years earlier.

But little did they know that God was in control and that the “lord of the land” had good in store for them. Their fear was nothing more than wasted emotion! How often is this true with us? We are afraid because we know ourselves, and we know what we deserve. We need to remember that God’s perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). God freely gives us the good we don’t deserve because Jesus took the punishment that our sins deserve. God deals with us according to grace because He is for us, not against us.

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)

What makes you afraid? Confess it to the Lord and trust Him to help you through it. Why are you afraid? Could it be that you have never taken to heart the grace of God? Like Joseph with his brothers, God is for you and wants to bless you for the sake of Christ. Watch as He turns your fear into a feast!