All These Things Are Against Me

In Genesis 42:36 we read these words of Jacob "...all these things are against me." (KJV).

They were spoken by Jacob after 9 of his sons returned to him from Egypt.  They had relayed the news to him that the Egyptian official who had sold them grain had accused them of being spies and demanded that they return to Egypt with their youngest brother to prove that they were not.  In order to insure their return, the official placed their brother Simeon in prison until they performed what he demanded.

The full statement by Jacob reads "you have bereaved me of my children; Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin..."  All Jacob can see at that moment is how he appears to be the victim of one unfortunate event after another.  He did not ask for any of these things to happen.  He had not written in his planning calendar "endure a 7 years famine, send 10 of my sons to Egypt for food and have them leave one son in prison, return and demand that I send them back with the only remaining son of my favorite wife, Rachel." 

However, what he cannot know at that very moment is that the official who made the demand is in fact his son Joseph.  He cannot imagine that Simeon is being well treated by his brother while in lock-up.  And he certainly cannot imagine that Joseph is second-in-command over all of Egypt, and that in sending Benjamin to Egypt, he will but set in motion a series of God ordained events that will result in the saving of his entire household from the effects of the famine.  Jacob also does not realize that he is on the threshold of initiating the events which will lead to the word of the Lord spoken to his grandfather Abraham when God made His covenant with him.  "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be slaves there..." (Genesis 15:13). 

No, at this moment, all Jacob can see is that nothing appears to be going his way.  He is about to descend into a time of depression from which only the ongoing effects of the famine will cause him to change his mind, and consent to sending Benjamin to Egypt.

This biblical story appears very pertinent to me today as I think about the special challenges presented to me, and those who will accompany me, in making short term trips to E. Africa in the months of March and April.  Planning an on-the-field training event with refugees and people living in Sudan already presents a number of special logistical challenges.  But now we have to also contend with the Covid-19 epidemic and all of its knock-on effects! 

Why Lord?  Jacob probably uttered those two words many times after his sons presented him with the quandry of sending them back with Benjamin.  God's answer is uttered by Joseph later on, "as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive..." (Genesis 50:20).  Yes, Jacob's merciful Lord was orchestrating all that was happening so that He might fulfill the covenant He made with Abraham.  While Jacob felt helpless, His sovereign Lord was still on His throne and fully in control.

Spurgeon wrote many years ago "It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's vessels of honor are distinguished."

May the Lord grant His view of things to all of us who desire to take the Word of life to those walking in darkness, no matter what storms may be raging at the moment. 

David