Stop worrying, don't be afraid. Your God has put treasure in your packs.
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“’Stop worrying,’ he replied, ‘don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father put
treasure in your packs.”” (Genesis 43:23)
What do we carry with us on our backs? Often, we can be weighted down with regrets
from past decisions we made. Sometimes
there are decisions that we made that are hard to turn around. We made them and now we live with them.
In this story, Joseph’s brothers made some choices they regretted
when they were young. As difficulty
happened they felt deserving of punishment because of it. They would tell each other that they were
experiencing difficulty because what they did to their brother. They were violent with their brother and threw
him in a pit when he was little. As a
result, they lived with guilt and regret they carried around. They also lived with the pain of their father
who would at times treat them that they were servants rather than sons.
This, being treated unfairly by their father, was the whole reason
for their resentment in the first place. Joseph was a favored son and treated
differently because of who his mother was—more loved than the other wives of
Jacob. There was nothing that the
brothers could do about this and Joseph seemed to use it for his advantage as
he got nice things, told on them frequently to get them in trouble and have
their dad further look down on his brothers so he would stand out. And then, of course, with telling them dreams
that he would rule over them.
Joseph also had years of living in the pain of those decisions as
he was sold into slavery and had years of suffering unjustly. He couldn’t change this but, as Joseph was
faithful, God brought it back around for his good and brought healing.
What choices have you made that weigh you down? Saul made poor choices that he lived with. He
chose to honor himself and others over honoring God and keeping sacrifices
rather than glorifying God with them.
He chose again and again to trust in his own sufficiency and strive to
keep his leadership at all costs.
At the end of his life in the full manifestation of the fruit of poor
choice after poor choice, he saw that his life was going to end and he became
afraid. Even though he did not repent
or regret these choices he had made, he felt the devastating weight that his
choices had impact.. The irony he died
with is that, had he chose to keep David in his ranks or repent and restore David
rather than try to destroy David, they could have won the battle.
Judas made a big mistake in betraying Jesus. However, it was not a one-time mistake that
he regretted and changed his heart about.
Rather, it was choice after choice of betraying Jesus in embezzling
funds and thinking first about himself. After
he made the final choice and it ended the ministry of Jesus on earth, he
regretted this. However, like in the
past, rather than allowing it to turn his heart towards God for help, he let
the enemy speak into his life self-loathing that led to his suicide – other regretful
mistake in carrying the heavy burden of regret into the future with him.
What choices are we making in our lives that are causing us
pain? What choices are pulling us away
from God’s will and causing us to feel regret and frustration?
In Haggai 1:6, The Lord challenges the people to look at the fruit
of their lives. He speaks to the people,
“Think
about your life!
You sow much but bring in little;
You eat but aren’t satisfied;
You drink but never have enough;
You clothe yourselves, but no one
is warm;
And he who works for a living
earns wages
That are put in a bag full of
holes.”
The good news is that we are not beyond help or turning
around. Big mistakes – can’t seem to change can turn
to our benefit. There is treasure in
our packs! Speaking to those who moved
beyond regret and shame and sought the Lord for help, In Zephaniah 3:11-17
(CJB):
“When that day comes, you will not be ashamed of everything you
have done, committing wrongs against me;
for then I will remove from among you those of you who take joy in
arrogance; you will no longer be full of pride on my holy mountain. I will leave among you a poor and afflicted
people, who will find their refuge in the name of Adonai.
The remnant of Israel will not do wrong, nor will they speak lies,
nor will there be found in their mouths a tongue given over to deceit; for they will be able to graze and lie down,
with no one to disturb them. Sing,
daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!”
Here is some amazing news: “Adonai has removed the judgments
against you; he has expelled your enemy; the king of Israel, Adonai, is right
there with you. You no longer need to
fear that anything bad will happen. On
that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, Zion! Don’t let your hands droop down. Adonai your God is right there with you, as a
mighty savior. He will rejoice over you and
be glad, he will be silent in his love, he will shout over you with joy.”
Out of our darkest moments and biggest messes, mistakes and
failures, when we not just regret, but repent, turning to God for help, a shout
can be heard. A large shout for joy will
resound as the Lord changes our circumstances around for His glory and our
victory.
Can you imagine the expression on Judas’ face in the depths of Sheol, thinking his situation was beyond hope, when the Lord came for him a few days later smiling ear to ear and offering him true repentance and salvation?
Judas had committed suicide when Jesus was condemned. The Lord died a few days later for all sin and it says
in 1 Peter 3:18-20,
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the
unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made
alive in the Spirit. After being made
alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when
God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it
only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water…”
David saw this and proclaimed in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go
from Your Spirit? Or where can I run away from where You are? If I go up to
heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in the place of the dead [depths of Sheol],
You are there!”
The good news is that no matter how we have messed up or what we
have done that we regret and carry around, there is hope. Hope to not only make it through and carry
around this weighted down backpack, but as we turn towards God, to find that
our burden is not only light, but there is treasure in our packs! That is not only good news but amazing news!
Lord, who could ask for more! When we have failed, you not only pick us back up and restore us but pour out upon us in Your goodness. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!
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