THE ELEVEN STARS (3).

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*THE ELEVEN STARS (3).*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Gen 37:21-23 *And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.*

*And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.*

*And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Eleven voices of eleven stars against the voice of one star!

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The eleven stars in the second dream of Joseph represented his eleven brothers (including Benjamin to make the eleventh).

Benjamin was not a part of the conspiracy nor an active participant in it.

It is most unlikely Benjamin was part of the plot. It would be right to assume he was too young to be among the older ten brothers and there are indications that Jacob jealously guarded him (as a son of a favoured wfe: Rachel), ensuring that he did not go out with them both to Dothan (Gen 37:17) and especially when he sent them from Canaan to Egypt in search for food, ref Gen 43:7.

Also Joseph's question in Gen 43:29 *"...Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about....."* suggests that Benjamin may have been too young at the time Joseph was sold at seventeen years of age, (ref Gen 37:2).

So one may rightly conclude that there were only ten brothers behind the tragic plot.

The rebellion, hostilities and conspiracies were the words and action of ten brothers against one (i.e.Joseph) but Benjamin would be one of the stars who would eventually bow to Joseph.

He, along with his ten older brothers, Benjamin prostrated themselves before Joseph,  Gen 43:26-28, 44:14. 

Despite bowing to Joseph in fulfillment of the dreams in Genesis 37:7-10, Joseph

treated Benjamin with special favour, giving him five times more food than the others. 

It is an error of life how one's association, familial relations with others etc, can often affect you adversely when you are not an accomplice or complicit to their evil.

This teaches us one of life's sorrowful lessons.

Though Joseph was happy to see Benjamin after he had pretended to the other brothers as if he did not know them (Gen 42:7) but the evil of the older ten brothers was not without an untold inconveniences and pains to Joseph and the poor and naive Benjamin.

While Joseph's brothers bowed to him (including Benjamin) he was deeply moved upon seeing Benjamin, his only full brother, and had to leave the room to weep.

It is recorded he wept seven times, Gen 42-50.

If Benjamin was not guilty by relation, he was subjected to pain of separation from his full brother, Joseph.

We go through pains in many ways but to be subjected to pains of family rivalry, betrayal and especially pains we do not deserve that often result in serious consequences are most traumatic and unbearable.

But for God and Joseph, though with painful forgiveness but with a heart of love, the Jacob family might have been totally separated never to come together again. If this had happened Joseph may have attained position but there may have been no need to the eleven stars to fulfill their God given destinies.

Seek after others' good though it may at first look like your's is short of any good!

*Remorse corner.*

If Joseph's brothers had sought after his good, they would have sought after their own good.

*Call to Word action.*

1 Cor 10:24 *Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

Do good to all, turn away from evil, seek peace and pursue it.( 1 Pet 3:11).

*Prayer.*

Lord help me to seek the good of others and as l do, let good come to me, in Jesus name.

Good morning all and be blessed as you come into His presence today.

God bless you.

Shalom.