Genesis 44:6-7 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that!
One of the things that I tell my students often is that we don’t know what we don’t know. That mantra comes to mind as I read today’s scripture. The brothers don’t know that the Egyptian they have been dealing with is the brother they sold into slavery. They don’t know that he is testing them to be sure they have changed.
Genesis 44:8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?
When we act on what we think we know, not realizing what we don’t know, we leave ourselves open to folly, to mistakes. We act as though we have all the answers when what we have, typically, is partial information. What can we learn? What can we share? How can we grow?
Genesis 44:9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.”
Precious Savior, It’s easy to think that we have all the answers, that we know all we need to know to proceed confidently, but rarely is that the case. Help us to get better at communication, to approach situations from a standpoint of growth and learning instead of certainty. Help us to shine Your light and point others to You, Lord. Amen.
Genesis 44:10 “ Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.”
Have a blessed day.