Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 43:18 (New Living Translation)

The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. ‘It’s because of the money we found in our sacks last time,’ they said. ‘He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.’

This is part of the long (hi)story of Joseph and his brothers. The brothers sold Joseph into slavery and prison. Through many hardships and years of struggle, Joseph becomes a ruler in Egypt with the power of life and death. The brothers no nothing of that rise to power.

Joseph sets up his brothers for a big fall. The evidence shows that they stole from the government of Egypt. They are in big trouble. The brothers realize their situation and lament about being taken as slaves to toil under cruel masters for the rest of their lives.

And they will also lose their donkeys.

Huh? What? Faced with the end of the lives, they lament the loss of their donkeys.

Huh? What? Donkeys? Of all the things to contemplate, they think of their donkeys? Isn’t that like us, like me? There are major problems on the horizon, and I am concerned about spilling a little of my coffee and not getting every penny’s worth of it this morning. Really?

There are big things in life and there are things that are not so big. Why is it that I open my mouth and mention those little things that mean nothing? What do other people think of me when I mention that I will lose my donkeys?

There are many question marks in the above. Answers are lacking. I guess that’s part of my life as a believer trying to be closer to God. Stop asking questions and start doing what is righteous. Donkeys? They are worth something, but they are not worth much compared to cruelty to me and my brothers. Please God, help me to see the big things as big and the rest as donkeys.