You’re Breaking my Heart.

You're Breaking my Heart. Genesis 43:1-14.

There are times in our life that we are forced to let go and trust God. Where God desires that we would have soft hearts, freely surrendering to Him, our hard hearts are not so easy to give in.

Such was the case of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. God promised that he would be the father of a great nation. It was a promise made to his grandfather, Abraham and his father, Isaac; now the fulfillment was seen in Israel having twelve sons.

Now all that was being threatened and Israel was being forced to give up and let go of that dream. Israel sat bitterly thinking about the trial they faced.

Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go back, buy us a little food." But Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.' If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" And Israel said, "Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?" Genesis 43:1-6(NKJV)

The bread they ate was bitter bread. To Israel it was obvious that all the sin that followed his children was being punished by God. Not only were they suffering, he was suffering and when it comes to responsibility for the children, the parents are always to blame.

God promised to bless Israel, but the famine indicated that the blessings had left and now he was being driven to release his last bit of control and give up his last son from his beloved wife Sarah.

But they said, "The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"
Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time." Genesis 43:7-10(NKJV)

The time was passing quick, so was the food they ate. Fears of losing the deal with the head of Egypt were fast on their minds and they had to plead with their father to make a decision.

Judah stepped up and said, "Let me take the blame if something happens" but his words must have caused great discomfort to Israel for Judah's life was riddled with disappointment and shame. God even killed two of Judah's son because of the wickedness they committed.

However, to Israel nothing made sense anymore. He had come to the breaking point; they were running out of food and the losses kept mounting. There was only one thing to do and that was to completely surrender to the situation and go with the circumstance.

And their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!" Genesis 43:11-14(NKJV)

There is a song sang in Christian Churches whose chorus says, "I surrender all to Jesus; I surrender all." This is the attitude that God wants from his people. He wants us to have faith, trust in Him, and surrender all of our problems to Him.

I was told a story that expresses this fact and if it is true, it went like this. On the banks of a great waterfall a tight rope was stretched from one side to the other. A man with a cart was preaching this very message. "You must surrender all to God and step out in faith," he said as he walked across the tight rope with the cart.

Arriving on the other side the man was applauded for such a great illustration and sermon. "Amen to that" said one brother standing in the front of the crowd.

"Do you believe it?" said the preacher. "I do pastor, I do," said the man. "Then you get in my cart and we are going back." Upon that statement the faith of the person was tested.

Weather the man got in the cart I do not know; however, there are many trials that are of such magnitude and they shake our faith. God would have us submit to the trial and trust Him to deliver. But do we?

Here Israel had to reach the breaking point; his sons were right there too. The circumstance was pushing them to the edge and there was no way they could avoid having to trust God for the outcome. Their hearts were hard and God was crushing the rock hard crust to get to the soft middle.

So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon." Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. Genesis 43:15-17(NKJV)

The young men, who arrogantly caused so much trouble for others, were now humble, submitting, and walking very softly. They were learning to trust God and also to be honest men.

This is all that God wants. If you notice, all the sins of their past were not being brought up. They did not have to answer for every misguided action. God was calling them to repentance and all they had to do was straighten up and act as good men.

God is that way. He is not waiting to air your dirty laundry, He wants only that you repent of your sins and surrender you life to Him. From that point, He would that you walk softly, humbly, and do your best to sin no more.

Sure we will sin again, but the magnitude of our sin will be less for our hearts will not be turned to our own lust and greed, but towards his will. And if we sin, we have a mediator with God, Jesus Christ. All we must do is confess our sin and He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Today, God may be pulling at your heart stings to let go of your destructive life and come to trust in Him. The person who listens will move through their trials quickly as God softens their heart. However, if you continue to resist, I would brace for some very had days ahead.