Genesis 43

I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭43:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Judah accepted full responsibility for Benjamin’s safety.  He did not know what that might mean for him, but he was determined to do what Joseph had asked.  Accepting responsibilities is difficult, but it builds character and confidence.  When you have been given an assignment to complete or a responsibility to fulfill, commit yourself to seeing it through.  In Luke 12:48, Jesus said “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  When the daily stresses of being a mom, dad, grandparent, husband, wife, employee, son, daughter, brother, sister, friend, student, coach, or teacher start to overwhelm us, think about these responsibilities as gifts from God.  He gave us these jobs, families, friendships, leadership positions, etc., for a reason.  We have all been blessed with so much and have been perfectly equipped by our Creator to handle these tasks that seem, at times, impossible to tackle.  With a Godly perspective we can handle each and every trial, whether big or small… and by doing so glorify Him.

Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?” But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.” And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight. Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭43:1-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jacob sent back double the amount of silver they had found in the sacks, demonstrating his honesty.  When the clerk at the store gives you too much money for your change, you should be honest and return it, rather than thinking that God was trying to bless you.  Honesty is an important virtue, and there is no point in trying to hide something from God.  In Mark 4:22, Jesus said “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.”  Remember this verse the next time you are tempted to be dishonest in a situation, or tempted with any sin.