Live and not Die

Genesis 42:1,2 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”

Joseph has now settled well in Egypt and is so successful that his possession of grain is heard in countries around Egypt especially Canaan. In this condition our concentration comes to a situation where Jacob and family realize that they are not nourished and they will die in case they do not act upon this situation. This realization is very much required in our spiritual life. The problem with spiritual life is that we do not know when we are hungry and if we are even alive in God’s eyes. In Romans 7:9, Paul says that he was dead when he got introduced to the law. He had not realized his death until he became part of the new covenant. As in Revelation 3:1, death after salvation is very much possible like the church of Sardis. With this understanding and context if we try to understand things from the interface between Joseph and his brothers, we will be able to survive our death.

When the sons of Jacob were hungry, they were looking at each other for solutions as they wanted to solve problems themselves. This is evident at most times in our life. We know that we are addicted to something or we know that we are lagging in prayer but we try to internally solve the problem and not want help from God. Let us seek food so that we will live. Internally if we keep looking for answers, we will eventually die without our knowledge.

When Joseph saw his brothers he calls them spies and not brothers or not even customers. The reason is that Joseph believed they may have murdered or done something evil to Benjamin as he was missing in this place. He calls them spies because of the huge responsibility and wealth he was responsible for and if these men were allowed to be near, they may try to kill Joseph again. Joseph was not an unforgiving brother or did not make fun of his brothers, but was behaving responsibly. We are expected to be responsible in holding the gospel. We can see the bible confirming by making Joseph the hero of this incident by calling the sons of Jacob as the brothers of Joseph.

The absence of Benjamin in the first time makes a lot of difference in our encounter with God. If we are not willing to submit completely to God, it looks disgusting to Him. In Romans 6:13, we read that this submission only means that we are living. This is the reason God had introduced the teaching of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will be in every corner of our body, soul and spirit so that we are completely present in God’s eyes. Overflowing of the Holy Spirit is not mentioned in the Bible. The verse says that hope overflows with the power of the spirit. (Romans 15:13). We will overflow with Joy, righteousness and love.

The brothers had double money now on their arrival but that does not matter here. A much better conviction is the only way out of this situation. Money does not matter here as Joseph knew that only two years of the famine have passed and though Jacob had enough money, food is not available. God wants us to repent and come so that the next tough five years can be eased out. We can be like other customers who were travelling to Egypt for food and they will keep visiting. God wants us to stay in full and only that makes us living.

The second visit to Joseph was again only for food and the brothers had forsaken Simeon till their food ran out. This is the reason Joseph had to be rough with them. If there is no unity, there is no redemption. They were physically present now but did not honor their unity. This time Joseph makes sure they understand how grave the situation is and then after they come back with conviction before being accepted. Their conviction is understood when Judah intercedes with him. Judah speaks about his father’s suffering and his will to remain a slave instead of seeing his father die with sorrow. Until this display of fellowship is seen, it is impossible to be accepted in God’s hands. In John 13:35, during the breaking of bread, Jesus explains that this commandment of loving each other only makes us disciples and worthy of His kingdom.

As in Jeremiah 21:8, God places both life and death in front of us. Jacob’s sons did not know what life they are going to get during this transformation but we do know through the scripture. We also know that if we surrender in full, God will make us rulers. As in John 12:25, if we lose our comforts for God’s kingdom we will gain