No. 1―continued.
WHEN the second journey to “the land of plenty” was decided on, the first mystery was still unsolved. Indeed, their wonder had considerably increased since that memorable halt at the wayside inn, for on reaching home, “Behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack”! Had the money been returned and the sacks sent back empty, it would have been no matter for either fear or wonder. “NOTHING FOR NOTHING” is the motto for this world’s markets, well understood if not plainly expressed everywhere. But that every man’s sack should be filled when corn was at famine price, and the money found there also, was past comprehension.
No surprise, then, that “When they and their father saw the bundles of money they were afraid”! (Gen. 42:3535And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. (Genesis 42:35)). What could it possibly mean? It was so utterly unlike what they could reasonably expect, that the discovery filled them with suspicion and dismay. It was too wonderful to be real; too good to be true; and certainly too much for nothing The very endeavor to account for it brought them to their wit’s end completely. Why? They had no idea of the real feelings of “the lord of the land” towards them. Here was the true secret.
It is ever so with sinful men until they learn something of “the grace of God in truth.” This grace asks man for nothing more than a frank confession of his guilt, and holds out nothing less than an eternity of overflowing blessing.
The God Who commands man’s repentance is the God Who commends His own love, and communicates His gracious desires for man’s happiness (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8); Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)). “I know the thoughts that I think towards you,” saith the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer. 29:1111For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)). God had thoughts of good for the very creature of whom He had, to say, “Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is only evil continually.” How marvelous!
As already noted, the sons of Jacob started on their second journey to Egypt with this mystery still unsolved, and even more firmly than ever was it fastened on their minds. Indeed, it was the chief topic of the whole family before starting. To prove the integrity of the intending purchasers and make a good impression on “the man,” the father was as anxious as the sons. Hear old Israel’s advice:―
“Take the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds. And take double money in your hand, and the money that was brought again in your hand: peradventure it was an oversight” (Gen. 43:11, 1211And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: (Genesis 43:11‑12)).
It was not the first time Jacob had said something similar. When compelled to meet his offended brother, Esau, he had said, “I will appease him with a present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me” (Gen. 32:2020And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. (Genesis 32:20)). Is not this exactly how an awakened sinner, with uneasy conscience and pressing need, tries to put things right with God? He would fain satisfy God if he could, but all he has to give does not even satisfy himself. A little balm, and a little honey and sweet spicery are all very well in their place, but they cannot take the place of bread. If they could, why go down such a distance to buy corn?
A few nice promises of better behavior for the future, and redoubled efforts to make amends for the past, do not settle the terrible sin question in God’s sight, and there is a dreadful famine in the awakened soul till that is settled.
But God has found satisfaction for Himself, and found it in Man, not in fallen man and his best endeavors but in “the Man Christ Jesus,” and the precious sacrifice He offered. Truly, what satisfies God may well satisfy a poor needy sinner, and it does satisfy him, as tens of thousands can testify joyfully.
On this ground, therefore, and on no other, can a sinner be accepted before God. But let the vilest on earth today only own his guilt and believe God’s declared satisfaction in His raised and glorified Son, and he will be able to say, with the “chief of sinners”: “It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:33, 3433Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:33‑34)). Blessed triumph this!
So in the lovely picture before us. Had they known it, the One Whom they most feared was the very One Whose heart was yearning for them all the time, and He was prepared to make every provision for their present need free of cost, and to make intercession for them before the King into the bargain, so that “the best of the land” might be theirs. What encouragement for the vilest to come! Myriads have proved the welcome Jesus gives. Is the reader one of them? Why not? GEO. C.