שלום חברי

רוח הקודש

Three weeks

Now there were no food anywhere but in Egypt, and Israel heard of it and sent ten of his sons there for food. From where Israel stayed with his camp, probably in Hebron and to where Joseph stayed, most likely in Memphis, it is about 400 kilometers. It would have taken them about three weeks to reach Memphis with their donkeys.

Killers, murders and liars

When they came, Joseph tested them to find out if they had changed from their evil ways, what had they learned, how they thought in their heart. Joseph accused his half-brothers of being spies, they were of course no spies, however, much worse, they were killers, murders and liars filled with hate and envy. However, in their own eyes they were honest people, “But they said to him, “No, my lord, for your servants have come to buy food. We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies”

Three days

Joseph needed to know if they had changed and put them in prison for three days, probably without food or water, and most likely, they considered the possibility of execution for spying out the country. Joseph would have them feel what he went through when they threw him into the pit with no food or water fearing for his life, this might also have been for three days. 

Benjamin

When Joseph met them after those three days in prison, he told his terrified brothers a way to stay alive. “Do this and live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in prison; but as for you, go, carry grain for the famine in your households, but bring your youngest brother to me, so your words will be verified and you will not die.” Joseph also needed to know how they valued his brother Benjamin.

We are guilty

They were terrified but in remorse and had an interesting conversation between them, “And they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty regarding our brother, because we saw the distress and anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; so this distress and anguish has come on us.” Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now the accounting for his blood is required.” 

Rueben opposed

His brothers talked in front of Joseph, not knowing that he understood every word they spoke, and it gave Joseph vital information. First, they believed in God behind what happened and felt what Joseph went through when they planned to kill him, and then sold him as a slave. Joseph also learned that Rueben opposed what they did to him.

Why Simeon

They agreed and Joseph confined Simeon in prison until they would come back with their youngest brother. Why Simeon, he led the operation when they sold Joseph, being the oldest when Rueben not present. Then they loaded the grain on their donkeys and begun their three weeks journey north to Hebron. When lodging one of them opened his sack and found the silver on top, “And he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! Here it is in my sack!” And their hearts sank, and they were afraid and turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us”

The severity

Now the ten brothers of Joseph realized that God controlled their destiny and that now was payback time, they could face the accusation of having stolen their money, they trembled of fear and realized the severity of what they had done to Joseph, about 24 years ago, the time does not make God forget.

Repent

What if you have done someone wrong, what to do? Jesus died for your sins, does he accept that you hurt or molest people, no, you have no license to sin, and that is not what Jesus gave you, suffering for you on the cross. What he did was forgiving you being a sinner, He changed your heart, your spirit that is your center, but he didn’t change your mind, your way of thinking. That’s the reason Jesus says we must repent, change your environment that influences your reasoning.

Five senses

Stop receiving ideas from the devil and begin your travel in the powerful Words of God. The gate is strait and the path narrow, to change your mind takes time, patience, effort and faith. It is an everyday crucifying of your flesh with its five senses, it is heavy in the beginning, however when the mind starts working properly according the Words of Jesus, the body surrender and the life gets better in the glory of God.

Questions

1. What decides how you treat others?
2. When being saved, what has changed?
3. Is it easy to forgive?