Genesis 42 tells the story of Jacob sending all of his sons except Benjamin to Egypt to buy food. The seven year famine was in full effect and Jacob had no other choice but to send his sons to buy food. When they came before their brother Joseph, they didn’t recognize him. They bowed before him and immediately Joseph remembered his dreams. He accused them of being spies and put them in jail. They explained who they were and that they had another brother.
Joseph released all but one, Simeon, so that the others could return home with food and then bring back Benjamin. When they told their father Jacob what had happened, he was upset. In verse 36 he said, “You’re taking everything I’ve got! Joseph’s gone, Simeon’s gone, and now you want to take Benjamin. If you have your way, I’ll be left with nothing.” I wonder if that last line was directed more at God than his sons.
For Jacob’s survival, he had to give up everything including the one thing he was holding back. He’d suffered loss before and didn’t want to release Benjamin. Through his losses, he had forgotten God’s promise to him back when he wrestled with God. In Genesis 35:11, God told him, “You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants.” Now, God was asking him to release all of his sons into the unknown. He thought that if he held onto one, the promise could still come true.
When he agreed to release what he had held back and sent all of his sons to Egypt, then he not only was given food, housing, protection from the famine and Simeon back, he got what was lost and taken from him back. He was reunited with Joseph. He was also able to see the greater picture. Joseph had to be taken from him years earlier in order to ensure the survival of his family so the promise could come true. Joseph endured hardships all those years just so his family could endure the coming famine.
It’s got me thinking this morning, “What is the one thing I’m holding back from God? Have I trusted Him with my whole life, yet held something back as a security blanket? Am I bitter over a loss or a time of hardship?” God’s not satisfied with us giving Him 99%. He wants us to release 100% of what we have to Him. It will only appear that we will be left with nothing. What we will gain is so much more. It just takes faith and trust in God’s promises to you.
What prior loss has still left you scared to trust God with everything? What’s the one thing in your life that you’re withholding from God? Do you feel like you’ll be left with nothing if you give everything to God? You aren’t alone in those feelings. You aren’t wrong to have them. It becomes wrong when God asks for you to let go and you still hang on. Release it all to God today. His hands are far more capable of protecting it than yours. He’s able to return it and all that you’ve lost exceedingly and abundantly more than you can imagine.
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Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
This post brings tears to my eyes because over the last two years God has taught me how to trust him. He said (to me in the very moment of crisis), “I will not let you fall,” but I’ve had to give up…resign myself to stop fighting him and believe what he says. And, when I did, he proved himself, from the smallest of ways to the biggest. A favorite preacher of mine preached, “If you can give it, you can have it all.” Thanks for this entry. As you know, I love anything about Joseph. God is faithful.
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Amen! God is faithful. Thank you for sharing part of your testimony here. My friend and I were talking today about how radical it has become in Christianity for someone to let go of everything and give it to God. We don’t see the growth or have it all, as that preacher put it, because we’ve failed to give it all. We’ve got to have a culture change in the church to get back to the basics of living by faith versus taking calculated “risks”.
Have you written down your testimony yet? If you’ve posted it, let me know. I’d love to read it. If not, I understand the pain it takes to walk back through it and to have to re-live the hurt, but it’s a necessary step in the healing process. That’s how I got started writing.
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I love what you said: calculated risks. God says, “Let me have total control.” That’s scary sometimes, even for his kids! I do have this portion of my life written down, but I have not posted it yet. Right now it’s submitted to a magazine. If it’s not used, I’ll post it here. (Correction: “If you can give it up, you can have it all.”)
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Calculated risks are not really risks nor are they steps of faith. I’m nearing the end of a chapter in my life. I can feel it. I want to trust God for that next step versus taking a calculated risk.
That’s pretty cool a magazine is considering it. Be sure to let me know if they publish.
If you’re interested in going to a writer’s conference, I’m going to one in October that’s very good. http://www.rewriteconference.com
It’s a great place to learn and make connections in the publishing industry. It’s an intimate setting without a green room for the authors and publishers. Check it out.
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The site is great, and thanks for sharing. That’s a next step for me. I’ve studied writing and practiced so much that it’s time for expansion. I just got my current Christian Writer’s Market Guide today. I have a small book I’ve finished that I’m planning on submitting. It’s for new Christians with a slant: how to take the very first steps in the new faith. (Answers the question, “What now?”) Sometimes converts don’t understand exactly how they’ve arrived where they stand in Christ, and we often don’t give them a panorama of the life to come. They will still deal with sin; there will be failures and victories. Then, how do you build a solid spirituality? So the book would prep them for common themes and doctrines that most other new discipleship books cover. / I’ll be praying for your next step, Chris. “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.” That’s a verse I always use to remind myself that there’s no place God’s loving care doesn’t escort me and greet me at the same time. I will pray that your faith remains strong. You know, my testimony extended just a little today with new work that I acquired (today). I will send the magazine version to your email, if you’d like. It explains things that I allude to. Cheers, my friend.
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No problem. It’s a great conference that really helped me take my writing to the next level. They have a writing contest where you can submit your book idea. The book that won last year is about to come out. It’s called “Epic Grace” by Kurt Bubna. Looks like a great book.
I’m so excited to hear that you got new work today! What an answer to prayer. I appreciate your prayers as God reveals the next steps in my life. I know what’s coming down the road, but not the steps in between. I know there’s a step of faith on my horizon. I keep praying that I’ll be camped at the Jordan when it’s time to cross instead of wandering in the wilderness.
I’d love to read your testimony. You can send it to chris@devotionsbychris.com
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I saw the guy who won the contest and wondered if any person could submit, or if it was only available to conference attendees or something like that. I’ll investigate a little further. / Amen. I will pray that God orders your steps and makes you ready for change he is bringing to you.
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Last year anyone could enter. I haven’t checked this year’s rules. As far as price, the different authors offer discounts. Follow the conference on twitter. They offer discounts too.
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