OUR FATHER WHO WORKS ALL THINGS FOR OUR GOOD

Genesis chapter 42 verses 3 - 5 reads this way;

Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.

This passage captures a detail within the broader story of Jacob's sons and their journey to Egypt to buy food when a great famine swept through the region.

When it became known that Egypt had food for sale, Jacob sent his sons there but he did not send Benjamin with them but held him back because he was afraid harm would come to him.

The thought of losing Benjamin was too much for Jacob to bear so he resisted sending him off with the rest of his sons.

Jacob had two sons by his wife Rachel whom he loved; Joseph and then Benjamin.

After the loss of Rachel while she was giving birth to Benjamin and the loss of Joseph while he was running a routine errand, Jacob must have felt that there was a vulnerability to danger on that side of his family and thus he feared that Benjamin would be singled out for harm while he harboured no such fear for the rest of his other sons.

He protected his son Benjamin as best he could but there were unknown forces in the wings that would  wrest Benjamin from his arms and expose Jacob to his worst fear and then to a surprise for the ages.

Let us always bless the Lord who causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8 verse 28).

Amen.