Genesis 42:1-4 "Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him."
Jacob saw (perceived) that there was corn in Egypt. We understand what it is like to be at our wit’s end over some tribulation, and suddenly there is an answer. Understanding that there was an answer prompted action on Jacob’s part. This understanding also motivated him to stir up his sons.
After a season of despair, we may find ourselves sitting on our hands. Things look so hopeless to us that we stop looking for answers. We may have to be roused from our apathy. One thing is certain, our relief will never come from looking on (relying on) each other.
Jacob did not know that his son, Joseph, was in Egypt. He assumed Joseph had been dead for years at this point. Still, he cared for his family and encouraged his sons to go and purchase corn from the land of Egypt. He understood that there was sustenance there, even if he did not yet know who was responsible for it.
Jacob sent the sons who were responsible for Joseph’s disappearance to buy this corn. They were soon to come face-to-face with their brother whom they had sold into slavery. Jacob would not send his youngest son, Benjamin. Jacob thought that Benjamin was his last link to his beloved Rachel and desired to keep him close.
Do you remember what it was like the first time the Holy Spirit gave you a glimpse into the gospel of Jesus Christ? When confronted with our sinful nature, we knew we were in a desolate place and death awaited us. Then we were blessed to hear that there was corn in Egypt. The Bread of Heaven was in this land, and we had hope that we might live and not die.
As we were motivated to go and buy this “corn” to sustain us, we still did not know who it was that had prepared this for us. Only by going where the corn was would we meet the one responsible for it. We were drawn by our desire to live. Soon we would find the One that we would live for, and we would learn that we could keep nothing back from Him. May God bless us as we continue to look into the life of Joseph and what it reveals to us about our relationship with our Lord and Savior.