Nougat 5

Hello

I pray you are well. Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc globally; but especially in India, where the new wave has devastated the population. Please pray, observe the protocols and be wise in our choices. Here’s today’s Holy Nougat

“But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him.” Genesis‬ ‭42:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I wonder, did Jacob believe his sons about Joseph’s death? Of a truth Benjamin was Rachel’s only remaining child. His last link to his favorite wife. But clinging to him when he would have been with his brothers somehow says to me that Joseph held the brothers responsible fo Joseph’s death.

As well he should. But we don’t know how they presented their story to convince Jacob in the first place. The sight of the bloody coat could have triggered some memories. Of another coat and another favorite son … It could be that he didn’t contest their story as he recalled his own saga of deception and its impact on the family.

Or he could have become so attached to Benjamin and just didn’t wish to have him far away. We know that Jacob mourned for Joseph for a very long time – he was inconsolable! It is possible that he became ultra-clingy as part of the grieving process.

This business of grief, it’s an inexplicable and often overwhelming process. And while psychologists have crafted the Five stages of Grieving, I have not heard of research that has determined the maximum amount of time someone can spend in grief. And Jacob’s grief was twofold: he grieved his soulmate Rachel AND his favorite son! It is possible that Jacob’s clinginess towards Benjamin was a response to all that grief.

Of course, there is my theory – Jacob did not trust the older sons.

This is not just about the sign of the bloody coat; but they were hotheaded, vindictive AND cruel. Remember how they treated Shechem and family?! (See Genesis 34), or Judah’s attitude to Tamar his sons’ widow?! (Genesis 38), or Reuben’s rape of Jacob’s concubine?! (Genesis 35). Jacob KNEW his sons were capable of activities that could have consequences on the entire clan!

Sometimes we are called to use wisdom in our interactions with those who we know most intimately. We cannot be blind to the actions of our kin or our friends. It may require loving them from a distance, or simply accepting their humanity and moving on (depending on the severity of their actions).

And what would have happened had Jacob permitted Benjamin to go with his brothers that first time? How differently would the story play out? Benjamin’s presence at the first visit could possibly have resulted in his detention. That would probably have killed Jacob!

Lastly, we may recall that Jacob was a strategist. He never played a full hand, and he kept those he treasured closest to him when he traveled (remember how he split his entire family, employees, and possessions in three or four groups when facing Esau? in Genesis 32), this would have been the same for him – a voyage to the unknown.

We cannot ignore God’s redemption plan in all this; for God desired the entire clan to be spared during the famine. And while nothing might have happened, we are not sure what God said on the matter or IF God spoke on the matter. As ones who seek to maintain our relationship with God, we ought to seek God’s face in all we do whether during crises or not.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ