What does Genesis 44:28 teach about trusting God amidst family struggles? The Context of Genesis 44:28 • Judah, pleading before the Egyptian governor (Joseph), repeats Jacob’s words: “ ‘The one is gone, and I have said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have not seen him since.’ ” (Genesis 44:28) • Jacob believes Joseph is dead. Unknown to him, God has preserved Joseph and is using him to save the family (Genesis 45:5–7). A Father’s Raw Grief • Jacob’s statement exposes years of unresolved sorrow. • From his perspective, the story ended the day Joseph’s coat came back blood-stained (Genesis 37:31–35). • The pain is real, but Jacob’s conclusion is wrong; God’s plan is quietly unfolding. What This Reveals About Trusting God Amidst Family Struggles • God’s purposes are bigger than our perceptions. While Jacob mourns, God positions Joseph (Genesis 41:39–41). • Time does not cancel God’s promises. Decades pass, yet the covenant line is secure (Genesis 28:13–15). • God works through imperfect families. Jealous brothers, deception, and famine cannot derail His design (Genesis 50:20). • Our feelings are not final facts. Jacob feels “torn to pieces,” but Joseph lives—proof that God’s truth outlasts human emotion. • Trust is possible even when information is incomplete; God possesses the full picture (Isaiah 55:8–9). Lessons for Today’s Family Struggles • Hold grief and faith together. Express sorrow honestly, yet anchor it in God’s sovereignty (Psalm 42:5). • Refuse to let present pain define God’s future for your family (Romans 8:28). • Remember that unseen miracles may already be in motion. What looks lost can be redeemed (Ephesians 3:20). • Guard against fatalistic conclusions—God often writes unexpected endings. • Encourage one another with God’s track record: if He preserved Jacob’s household through betrayal and famine, He can handle today’s conflicts. Supporting Scriptures • Genesis 45:5–8 — Joseph explains God’s hidden purpose. • Genesis 50:20 — “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” • Romans 8:28 — “All things work together for good to those who love God…” • Psalm 34:18 — “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted…” • 2 Corinthians 5:7 — “We walk by faith, not by sight.” |
    |