The Feed Mill

Today’s Bible Reading: Genesis 43-45

Today’s Devotional: Genesis 43:11-12

Once everything appeared to be working against Jacob. We see that all of his old characteristics as Jacob and not as Israel surfaced.

With things against him now he doesn’t loose attachment to his own ability to manipulate the situation and circumstances into his own advantage. Jacob sends a present to appease. We see that Jacob’s confidence when in himself, was always in favor of his own comforts and to appease the other man. That the great end of a man was to gain something in possession. Jacob reveals himself and his character apart from the work of God in his life by how he estimated others.

How many times do you and I do the same thing, we try to in even the best of circumstances add our manipulating ways of getting a response that is in our favor in addition to seeking the mercy of God and for Him to reveal to us what is truly going on in the situation. Jacob sought his personal comfort early on instead of inquiring of the Lord what was transpiring, and because of that his family again suffered as the famine became more severe. Jacob’s actions and assumptions about another were more evident of Jacob than it was of the governor of Egypt and his motives.

In Genesis 43:8-9 Judah encouraged his father to trust him for their lives, for life and not for death. That he is the guarantee for another of Jacob’s sons. Jacob had already lost two sons, Joseph and now Simeon. But by trusting in Judah the Lord restored to him what was lost.

This year I would like to encourage that we seek the Lord, and the Lord alone, in all of our situations and circumstance for what He is doing and what possible change in our direction He could be wanting in our lives. And if you have not already placed your trust in the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, place your trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ for life and that He desires eternal life for both you and your family and not death. And then allow God to restore the years to your life that you may have lost. Because Israel trusted Judah, Jacob’s entire house hold watched and received the blessing of watching their father step out and trust what promises life, and not what leads to death. And so I pray the same for you and your family, as they watch you step out and trust Jesus more and more this year for the promises He has for you and I for life and not for death, that they too will taste and see that the Lord is good.