Dreams Fulfilled
View daily reading plan: Genesis 42.1-20
The whole Middle East was in the grip of this famine, and Jacob’s encampment was not exempt; in fact, their lives were endangered (Gen 42.1-2). God’s people are not immune from the calamities that affect humanity at large. Having heard that there was corn in Egypt Jacob commanded his sons to go there (Gen 42.2).
On their arrival in Egypt, the ten brothers had an immediate audience with “the governor over the land” (Gen 42.6) whom they did not recognise. They bowed in his presence, “with their faces to the earth” (Gen 42.6). At last the predictions of the dreams were being fulfilled. Their boastful “we shall see what will become of his dreams” now mocked them (ch.37.8,20). In imprisoning them for three days he gave them all a small taste of what he had experienced over many years.
It is significant that in this crisis, the first thing that sprang to their minds was their mistreatment of Joseph so many years before; “We are verily guilty concerning our brother” (Gen 42.21). The worm of conscience had been gnawing relentlessly over the years. It is thrilling that one of the benefits of knowing Christ is that His ‘one sacrifice for sins for ever’ means that for the believer there is “no more conscience of sins” (Heb 10.2).
Friday, 16 February, 2024