Providence carrieth guilty souls in, through, and out of temporal dangers at His will.
2. Gracious fathers are gratified sometimes from God by safe return of sinful children.
3. Reason will instruct men to declare all events of Providence furthering, or hindering in the way (Gen_42:29).
4. In relation of providential events truth must be declared; yet no need of telling all.
5. In relating providences, evil men are willing to hide sins which caused them.
6. It concerns suspected, and accused persons to declare what is required for their purgation. Upon this these sons of Jacob make this narration of themselves and others (Gen_42:30-34). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Lessons
1. Providence ordereth to creatures strange things at home, as well as abroad.
2. God ordereth good in events to men, which they are apt to think bad.
3. Mistakes of Providence may make men fear where no cause is (Gen_42:35). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Money causing fear
Gold and silver are bright metals. They dazzle the eye of the greater part of mankind. Achan saw a gold wedge, and, in defiance of an awful curse, took it to his tent. Yet when Jacob and his sons saw heaps of money in the mouths of their sacks, they were terrified as if they had seen a serpent. For what reason were they afraid at a sight so generally desired? They thought that this money was a snare laid for their lives. And have not many rich men still greater reason to tremble when they look at their gold and silver? All money unjustly got, or unrighteously or unmercifully kept, is a snare to the possessor, and will rise up to witness against him in the day of accounts. Such riches are corrupted and cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against the owners, and eat their flesh as it were fire. But Jacob and his sons had no good reason to be afraid when they saw the money. It came not from an artful knave, but from a kind son and brother, who was tenderly solicitous about his father and brethren, that they should not come to poverty. Our fears often proceed from our ignorance and mistake. We are afraid of those evils that will never come, and stand in no fear of those that will come. Happy are they who can commit all their affairs to Him who knows everything that shall befall us. Jacob’s sons were afraid at the inn, when they were told of money in one of their sacks. But the fears which they had endeavoured to forget were awakened anew at the opening of all their sacks. Every little circumstance heightens the distress of minds already dejected; and therefore, in dangerous circumstances, it is necessary to our peace and happiness to have our minds fortified with the consolations of God. “The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous is bold as a lion.” (G. Lawson, D. D.)
