Double Trouble.

Double Trouble. Genesis 42:25-38.

Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. So he said to his brothers, "My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!" Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, "What is this that God has done to us?" Genesis 42:25-28(NKJV)

God revealed to Joseph in a dream that his brothers were bowing before him. As a young man Joseph could not understand the meaning of this dream; however, as a young man his brothers grabbed him, threw him into a pit, and then talked about how they would kill him. This happened because he told them of his dream. Now here the brothers stood before Joseph with money in their hands wanting to by grain to take back to their starving land.

Joseph's journey started with the brothers selling him to slave traders; from there he was sold to the Pharaoh's captain of the guard. He worked as a servant until the captain's wife tried to seduce Joseph; but turning her down caused the bitter lady to charge Joseph with rape and he landed in jail.

In jail Joseph trusted in God and was faithful to his duties. He dreamed more dreams and those dreams impressed another who recommended Joseph to the Pharaoh.

Then Joseph helped the Pharaoh interpret a dream and because the Pharaoh believed the interpretation, Joseph was made the number two man under Pharaoh. Now his brother's stood before the most powerful man in Egypt and they could not recognize him as their brother Joseph.

It was Joseph's time and he wanted to see his brother, Benjamin. So Joseph gave an order to load their donkeys with grain and asked them to return with the youngest son of their father. However, Joseph knew the deceitfulness in these men's hearts. He knew they would not return.

Known this, Joseph was playing his brothers like a masterful musician holding an instrument. He was not going to let them leave his presence never to return. So Joseph had all their money put back into their bags so the brothers would not only be accused as spies, they would be guilty of thievery.

Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: "The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.' Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, 'By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.'" Genesis 42:39-34(NKJV)

Can you imagine being their father and listening to this ridiculous story? First, Jacob knew his sons were not honest men; they had treated others dishonestly and even killed the Shechemite men in a deceptive plot. There was no innocence here.

Second, he knew that his boys were a bit irresponsible and trouble followed them. Now they left behind their brother and they wanted to place another family member in danger? Jacob was beside himself; for the blessings of God seemed to flee them and he felt responsible for the whole mess.

Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man's bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me." Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you." But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave." Genesis 42:35-38(NKJV)

The men were in double trouble. Because of their own deceitful sins everybody was against them. The Pharaoh had one brother and wanted anouther. They knew not what would happen if they returned and their father strongly opposed taking Benjamin with them. What were they to do?

Trials are just this way; the things we did not consider rear up like wild animals to maul our lives. They make us feel like running; however, running would just make things worse?

Of all the trials you face, what can you trace them back to? Is there a decision you made, a thing you did that started the ball rolling?

Many people face extreme financial pressures because they commit themselves before they have money in their hand. Credit cards bring fun, vacations, new clothes, and toys. However, the toys get old, and the clothes wear out, and the vacations are reduced to a few photos you took on the way. You embraced debt and that debt becomes a terrible trial to live with.

Some live hard lives as young adults. They drink, take drugs, and spend their days living for the nightlife. Then one day they realize that their passion to party has dislodged their dreams of what life should be.

Life becomes hum drum; they have to work at lesser jobs because they did not secure the education to do better. Their income does not match their desire and the loves of their life turn into bickering relationships.

Many divorce and some suffer health effects; most never find the answers they need to get them out of their trials. However, there is a group of people who find a way out. These are they that recognize their mistakes and take them to God in prayer.

Even the slight turning of your attitude to God will cause God to reciprocate in ways that are amazing. He can fix any problem, restore any relationship, and even help you gain a new life, a new job, and a new future. God takes the old and makes it new.

It all came at great expense; not your expense, but His' own expense. God gave His only Son, who died on a cross taking the penalty for your sin upon Himself. Since He died for your sin, He can forgive you of your sin and cleanse you.

However, you have to want it. So while you are deep in your troubles keep in mind that God is a way out. You must only honor him as such.

Jacob and his boys were about to have a religious experience; but first they had to sink deeper into their troubles before they called out to God.