'And this is what he(Joseph) sent to his
father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female
donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey,'
Genesis 45:23.
Why, we might well ask, did Joseph send his father 'ten donkeys
loaded with the best things of Egypt,' if he was wanting his father to come as
quickly as possible to Egypt(v 13)? Surely he could have set it all aside for
when his father arrived? Surely Jacob and his sons were going to have to bring
it all back to Egypt with them? So what was the purpose?
Well, when the brothers returned to
encourage their father to move to Egypt, they might well have told him of all
that they lay in store for him there, but to him it could have seemed
far-fetched. However, seeing for himself some of the 'best things of Egypt'
that Joseph sent would surely have given Jacob a convincing taste of what lay
in store for him there? It is all very well and good being told something or
reading of it in a book, even the bible, but whilst it may or may not be true,
may or may not be convincing, how can we be sure? Surely, we can only be truly
certain if we experience for ourselves what we have read or heard? As the
people who sought Jesus in response to the Samaritan woman's testimony said,
'We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for
ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world,' (John
4:42).
In the same way as Joseph sent 'the best
things of Egypt' from Pharaoh to convince Jacob of the truth of his sons' words
and what lay in store for him in Egypt, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, not only
to be our Counsellor and Helper, but to reveal the truth of his Word, 'When
the Counsellor comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth
who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me,' (John 15:26, see
also 14:16 & 26 & 16:7). Dear reader, do you want convincing proof that
Jesus is all that is claimed? Then seek him with all your heart and you
will find him(Jeremiah 29:13). Wavering in your faith? Ask God to fill you with
his Holy Spirit, that you might have the witness within yourself, (1 John 5:10)
God bless you all.
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