Genesis 42: 29 -43: 14

Israel had an unbearable choice. He had to choose to risk one son to save another. It is a choice no father would ever want to face. If he chose to keep Benjamin safe, then Simon would remain in prison. If he chose to send his sons back to Egypt, he risked losing his youngest son Benjamin. Benjamin was the only remaining son of Rachel whom the loved dearly. Not choosing was not an option. He chose to consider Simon as lost, and he kept Benjamin safe.

The famine continued, and he had to revisit his decision. Now the choice was between risking Benjamin or allowing his whole household to suffer and starve. He submitted to necessity. He told his sons to return to Egypt and take Benjamin with them. He also did everything he could to influence the outcome of the trip. He sent the best the land had to offer as gifts. He sent double the amount of silver so that they could repay the original silver. Finally and most importantly, he asked that God Almighty might grant them mercy before the Egyptian ruler. Having done all he could do he was ready to accept whatever happened.

I hope and pray I will never have to make life and death decisions for those I love. God does not guarantee me that. We live in a harsh and dangerous world. Bad things happen, and sometimes we must make choices that seem unbearable. If that ever happens, I pray that I will behave like Israel. I want to do everything I can do to achieve the best outcome. I want to ask with faith believing that God will be working to bring about the best outcome. No matter what happens, I want to maintain my relationship with God. If tragedy ever strikes, I will need the grace of God more than ever before. The choice to trust God makes the unbearable choice bearable.