Shortly before I began serving as the Youth Director for First United Methodist Church in Columbus, Indiana, one of my future junior high students was accidentally run over by her father. Apparently, she was one of the top female tennis players in town and was stretching in her family driveway. In a rush to get to work, her father backed his car up running over her knee. This careless mistake caused her father to become extra cautious in the future, struggling to forgive himself.
Then they took Joseph’s [distinctive] long garment, killed a young goat, and dipped the garment in the blood; 32 And they sent the garment to their father, saying, We have found this! Examine and decide whether it is your son’s tunic or not. 33 He said, My son’s long garment! An evil [wild] beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned many days for his son. 35 And all his sons and daughters attempted to console him, but he refused to be comforted and said, I will go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) to my son mourning. And his father wept for him, Genesis 37:31-35.
According to Moses, Jacob experienced similar emotions after receiving the news that his favorite son Joseph had been mauled by an animal, ( fictional account). Subsequently, when ten of his sons tell Jacob that he must send his youngest son Benjamin to Egypt, he refuses to do so. Moses describes Jacob as a parent thinking about the worst-case scenarios if he were to allow Benjamin to travel to Egypt. Jacob became extremely protective of Benjamin, wanting to keep him safe from any harm.
Now when Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, Why do you look at one another? 2 For, he said, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; get down there and buy [grain] for us, that we may live and not die. 3 So ten of Joseph’s brethren went to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s [full] brother, Jacob did not send with his brothers; for he said, Lest perhaps some harm or injury should befall him, Genesis 42:1-4.
When I was a young parent raising three kids with my wife Leanne, I was consumed with my new teaching position at Red Lion. However, after I became aware of an issue with one of James’ baseball coaches, I was prompted to become more active in my children’s lives. This one incident led me to become an extra cautious parent. The following year I became an assistant coach for James’ team and coached Daniel’s team four years in a row. While it’s natural to become an extra cautious parent, at some point you have to let go and allow the Lord to be in control, Proverbs 19:21.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 