silver...

Genesis 42:25

Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey.

When the famine struck the lands around Egypt, everyone heard of the grain stored in Joseph’s storehouses and went to him to buy food. Joseph’s brothers, who were also caught in the famine, went to Joseph to buy food, paying with ten sacks of silver.

On the way back to their home with the food, they found that the silver they had used to pay for the food was still with them (v28)! They felt like they had robbed Joseph. They were worried and afraid because they had taken something without paying for it.

But Joseph’s brothers did not recognise that the ruler of Egypt from whom they had received their food was their brother. Firstly, Joseph did not need the money and secondly, he did not want his family to pay for their provision. Instead, as Joseph’s servant would later tell them, “It’s all right. Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your fathers, has given you treasure in your sacks” (v22).

In the same way, Jesus does not want a payment from believers - His family. God has no intention to take from you before He gives you something in return (this goes right back to the Garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Adam and Eve by saying that God was withholding something from them!).

Does that mean we don’t ever give anything to God? No, He loves our worship. And when we come into a greater and greater revelation of what He has already done for us and how generously He gave us all things in Jesus, worship is our overflowing response!

Prayer for this week: Thank you Father for you are for me. Help me grow in the knowledge of your Son and what he did for me. I am immeasurably blessed. Keep me in your presence in every moment, conscious of everything you are.