as they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. and jacob their father said to them, “you have bereaved me of my children: joseph is no more, and simeon is no more, and now you would take benjamin. all this has come against me.” [genesis 42:35-36]
a father’s loss
even though jacob doesn’t know his other sons sold joseph into slavery, the truth comes out of his mouth. and in this text, i am reminded of the fact that we bereaved God of his Son! Jesus died to pay the price for our sins—it was our sin, the sin of believers in Christ, that held him on the cross! jacob has been left bitter and resentful over his loss, but our heavenly father extends all grace, calling us his sons and daughters! what a king, who—knowing our every sin in detail—forgets each one by the shed blood of his son.
Lord, thank you for your extravagant forgiveness. may that forgiveness be the center of our identity, and may it lead us to extend mercy and grace in radical ways! we do not deserve you: please lead us as you will!
~stephen hall