King James Daily Bible Study: Do Not Be Afraid
Date: Saturday January 15, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 43-45
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-15
Details of Today's Reading: Joseph's brothers return with Benjamin, unknowingly they enjoy a feast with him, Joseph send them away, but has them captured, confession is made by the brothers, Joseph reveals himself to them, Jacob is finally told the truth and that Joseph is alive.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
No matter how strong our faith in God is we all get scared from time to time, but we have to be careful not to let our fears over take us so much that it keeps us from doing what we are supposed to be doing. There is a saying we all have heard, “there is nothing to fear, but fear itself.” Fear can destroy us, literally kill us, but fear can also save us, the fear of God that is. The Bible says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:13,14. To fear God does not mean to be afraid of Him, it means to respect Him and acknowledge Him, not be afraid of Him. Maybe some of us should be afraid of Him, but if we are living our lives for God than we do not have to be afraid.

When Joseph's brothers returned to Canaan and told their father, Jacob, that Simeon was in prison and in order for him to be released they had to bring Benjamin Jacob refused. The only thing left closest to Joseph, whom he thought was dead was Benjamin, to lose him would kill him. Now, after some time had passed and food was getting scarce they knew they needed to go to Egypt and take Benjamin with them, but Jacob was afraid.

“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. If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: 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. And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 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?.. 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:” - Genesis 43:3-7,11.

God will test our faith by asking us to give up the thing we love the most. When Abraham was finally given a son, God tested him. When Job was stripped of everything he had, God tested him. God even tested the faith of His own Son. He had flesh just like the rest of us and could have sinned as the rest of us, but He remained sinless and gave up His own life to preserve life. When a rich young man asked Jesus how he could get to the Kingdom of God, He said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” - Matthew 19:21,22. If we want God's blessings we have to give up the thing we love the most.

If we want God's blessings we also need to repent, although God knows all that we do, unless we confess it to Him we will never be at peace, the guilt and shame alone will haunt you. So, here are Joseph's brothers heading back to Egypt with Benjamin, each one probably wondering what was going to happen to them once they get there. Do you know the best way to get a person back? Be nice to them. Joseph invites them to lunch, they get to his house and their fears overwhelm them.

“And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,..And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth...And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread...And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of their's. And they drank, and were merry with him.” - Genesis 43:17-19,26,29-31,34.

Their cares and fears were now over, and they ate their bread with joy, concluding they were now upon good terms with the man, the lord of the land. If God accept our works, our present, we have reason to be cheerful, but little did they know that Joseph had devised a plan to bring about their full confession.

“And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?..And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground...Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.” - Genesis 44:1-4,14,18.

God has strange ways of getting us to repent, but when we do it takes a huge weight off our shoulders. The word repent means to feel remorse for and to ask for forgiveness. The longer we take to repent the more guilt ridden we become the more afraid we are of what can come of it. Fear from guilt has caused many people to destroy themselves. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” - Proverbs 16:18,19.

After Joseph heard Judah's confession he revealed to them who he was, “Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren...And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”- Genesis 45:1,4-8.

Can you imagine the look on their faces and what fear they had after realizing that he was telling the truth? Yet, Joseph was not angry, he did not tell them I told you so, he simply told them to forgive themselves, assuring them that it was God's plan all along. Although his brothers were cruel, God used their wickedness to fulfill His will for Joseph and blessed him abundantly for it. There is truly nothing to fear, but fear itself. God is always in control, He is all knowing, forgiving, and blesses all who fear Him. Do not be afraid to go forward, just put your trust in God and He will take care of the rest, regardless of your past. “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” -Psalm 112:1

Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through Joseph's dealings with his brothers. Christ deals with us in such a way as to bring about our confession of sin and a recognition of His forgiving love. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” -II Peter 3:9.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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