About the time I have finished with one test God has given me, another comes.  What is this?  Isn’t one test enough?  Not if we are to continue to grow and mature as God’s children.  He is a loving Father who desires His children to become more like His One and only begotten Son, Jesus.  And to do that, it means we need to continue to be changed by His word for His glory!

Joseph’s ten older brothers had been harsh and unkind to him as a teen-ager.  Selling him into slavery, he was taken to Egypt.  God intervened through various circumstances in Joseph’s life and he became second in command over all Egypt under Pharaoh.

Joseph’s brothers, all eleven of them, came to Egypt a second time to buy more grain because of the severe famine. They were invited (commanded) to eat the noon meal at Joseph’s house.

Three separate tables were set for dining.  One table was for the Egyptians whom Joseph invited, one for Joseph and one table for his eleven brothers.

The eleven brothers were seated in their birth order, beginning with the first born (Reuben) and ending with the youngest, Benjamin.  Amazing and astonishing to the brothers!

What was the test?  Benjamin, the youngest, was given five times more to eat than all the other brothers!  It was very apparent.  Food was served to them from Joseph’s table.

How did they react?  They feasted and drank freely with Joseph.  It would seem they did not show any jealousy or complain about the portions Benjamin received.  And Joseph observed their reactions.  (Genesis 43:31-34)

How do you react to situations and circumstances which show favoritism to another?  Are you truly happy for them or are you jealous?  Are you forgetful of the slight given to you and overlook the favoritism shown to another?

Perhaps God is testing you, again, for a changed attitude which will glorify Him.

~ Take it to heart ~

From the following Scriptures:

What do you need to stop doing?

What do you need to begin doing?

(NASB) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and it is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails…”