Called To Return Series

Called to Return

A. The Promise

B. The Preparation and Panic

C. The Presentation and Placement

DBF, Genesis 43, 4/28/02

I know there are times of year that we all leave Dillingham and Bristol Bay to go to different places outside.

When I go, I really do enjoy leaving for a while to re-energize and to visit with friends and family.

Our family, other than our God given family, is from Louisiana and the Philippines.

What always amazes me is the closeness I share with my Christian family. My Christian brothers and sisters never seem to tire of us and wish to be removed from our presence. We sit for hours and talk about things in each other’s lives that really matter to us and to the work of God around us.

As much as we enjoy visiting our families and friends, we truly enjoy and cannot wait to come back home to Dillingham.

Much in the same way we will see that Joseph’s family has come to the point that they need to return to a place that God has prepared for them. They of course or not very happy to have to do so because it meant that they would be required to bring their youngest brother. They knew how difficult it would be if they lost their youngest brother—it would surely be the end of their father Jacob-Israel.

Let us walk with the family of Jacob today to look at what God would have us learn for our lives today.

A. The Promise

Genesis 43:1-7 (KJV)

And the famine was sore in the land. [2] And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. [3] And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. [4] If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: [5] But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. [6] And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? [7] And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? (8)And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. [9] I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: [10] For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time. [11] And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: [12] And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: [13] Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: [14] And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

Have you ever hungered for something?

What have you hungered for is it the things of the world or as God calls us too—Is it the things of God that you hunger for?

Because of the severe famine, Jacob urges his sons to go and buy a little food.

I wonder what would have happened to Simeon if the famine had ended. There wasn’t much push on the side of the family on the part of Simeon being in captivity.

Does the captivity of the people in the world around you cause you more concern than we see exhibited here by the family of Simeon?

God does truly desire the best for HIS chosen people, He directs you and I to continue to put forth HIS word so that people may come and this must become our great journey.

Judah urges that Benjamin should go with them. It is not against the honor and duty of a children to humbly to advise their parents, and when needful, to reason with them. The major thing being humbly—that is at whatever your age.