When we read through our Bibles, our minds generally focus on the main characters of the stories. When we read the creation narrative, we focus on Adam and Eve, and often give very little thought or attention to the other names provided in the genealogies in those early chapters. When we get to the book of Exodus, we dial in on Moses and Pharaoh. When reading the New Testament, the spotlight tends to be on Yeshua (Jesus), Peter, and Paul.
Of course, as we read, we notice many of the minor, or supporting characters, in the stories. We know of Enoch, Methusela, Noah’s sons, Lot and his daughters, etc. But, most of the time, we are laser focused on the stars and costars and not the walk-on characters. While it is human nature for us to major on the majors, there are many important lessons that we can learn by taking the time to think about the more minor players in the stories. After all, the truth is that each of us, no matter how important we think we are, are really contributing characters in the greater story we live within.
With this in mind, I want to take a look at a couple of verses of Scripture and a minor character in a story that may be of greater importance than we usually notice. As we read the book of Genesis, several chapters are devoted to Joseph and his rise from falsely accused prisoner to viceroy of Egypt. The story of Joseph has more figurative types and shadows that connect to the life of Yeshua than nearly any other story from the Tanakh (Old Testament). Inside these chapters, we find a horribly dysfunctional family, human trafficking, false imprisonment, followed by redemption, restoration and the salvation of a people.
The themes are so dramatic that it is easy to miss some of the more minor details. Yet, G-D, in His infinite wisdom and by the direction of His Spirit, believed the minor details were important enough to include. So, if He intentionally included them, they must be of more significant importance and hold more value than we normally allot to them. One of these mentions or details is found in the section of the story where Joseph’s brothers first come before Joseph at a time when he is the second most powerful man in Egypt, and at a time when they no longer recognized Joseph as their brother.
The brothers come to Joseph seeking grain and, during their interaction, they mention that their father and youngest brother are back in Canaan. Joseph insists that they go back and bring Israel and Benjamin back with them, and to make sure this happens, Joseph puts Simeon under arrest, holding him until their return. As we read in Genesis 42:24 He turned away from them and wept. When he turned back to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and tied him up before their eyes.
The next chapter begins with these words:
Genesis 43:1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 2 When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt their father said to them, “Go back. Buy us a little food.”
followed by this statement Judah makes in Genesis 43:10 If we had not delayed, we could have returned twice by now.”
When we read these chapters with our eyes on Joseph, we often miss the fact that Simeon was left behind for long enough for Israel and his sons to finish eating all of the grain that they had brought home from the last trip to Egypt. We don't know exactly how long this was, but we know it was long enough, according to Judah, that if they had not delayed, they could have made the trip to Egypt twice. The fact that Judah makes the statement about delaying shows that their delay was purposeful. They knew that Simeon was in bondage in Egypt waiting for them, yet they delayed returning until they had once again eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt.
Take a moment to think about that statement and the reality of it. Simeon was their brother, yet they delayed returning for him until they ran out of grain themselves. Sounds pretty selfish and self-serving, doesn’t it? Yet, I wonder how many times we have done the same thing or something similar. Every one of us has brothers and sisters who are in bondage in their own Egypt. Some of them are in bondage because they arrived there with us, some were there before we arrived, but each of them are there, and we know they are because we were with them. But, then G-D delivered us from our own personal Egypt and we went to live in our Father’s House to eat, drink, and be merry, all the while knowing that our Simeons are still in bondage in their Egypt. Yet, we delay by our own choice going back to Egypt to set them free.
To make it more plain, how many of us have friends still living in sin where we once were, but we are too busy living “holy lives” in the blessings of G-D to go back and rescue them from their bondage? Our reasons for delay are varied, but they are intentional, just as Simeon’s brothers intentionally delayed going to set him free. But, whatever the reason is, we should not wait until our grain runs out before we feel compelled to go get them. Maybe this is why Yeshua spoke those powerful words in Matthew 25: 40 “And answering, the King will say to them, ‘Amen, I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Imagine the deep pain and rejection that is felt by our Simeons whom we have left behind in Egypt.
Comentarios