Their fatherJacobsaidto them, "You have bereavedme of my children:Josephis nomore,and Simeonis nomore,and you would takeBenjamin;allthese things are againstme."
Then Reubenspoketo his father,saying,"You may putmy twosonsto deathifI do not bringhim [back] to you; puthim in my care,and I will returnhim to you."
and may GodAlmightygrantyou compassionin the sightof the man,so that he will releaseto you your otherbrotherand Benjamin.And as for me, ifI am bereavedof my children,I am bereaved."
He searched,beginningwith the oldestand endingwith the youngest,and the cupwas foundin Benjamin'ssack.
Then Israelsaid,"It is enough;my sonJosephis stillalive.I will goand seehim beforeI die."
Josephprovidedhis fatherand his brothersand allhis father'shouseholdwith food,accordingto their littleones.
"Rememberthat my lifeis [but] breath;My eyewill not againseegood.
Manyare the afflictionsof the righteous,But the LORDdelivershim out of them all.
The endof a matteris betterthanits beginning;Patienceof spiritis betterthanhaughtinessof spirit.
Thereforethrough thisJacob'siniquitywill be forgiven;And thiswill be the fullpriceof the pardoningof his sin:When he makesallthe altarstoneslike pulverizedchalkstones;[When] Asherimand incensealtarswill not stand.
I said,"In the middleof my lifeI am to enterthe gatesof Sheol;I am to be deprivedof the restof my years."
Do not fear,for I am with you; Do not anxiously lookabout you, for I am your God.I will strengthenyou, surelyI will helpyou, SurelyI will upholdyou with My righteousrighthand.'
Thussaysthe LORD,"A voiceis heardin Ramah,Lamentation[and] bitterweeping.Rachelis weepingfor her children;She refusesto be comfortedfor her children,Becausethey are nomore."
ImmediatelyJesusstretchedout His handand took holdof him, and saidto him, "You of little faith,whydid you doubt?"
And we knowthat Godcausesall thingsto work togetherfor goodto thosewho loveGod,to thosewho are calledaccordingto [His] purpose.
Whatthenshall we sayto these things?IfGod[is] for us, who[is] againstus?
Notemptationhas overtakenyou but such as is common to man;and Godis faithful,whowill not allowyou to be temptedbeyondwhatyou are able,but with the temptationwill providethe way of escapealso,so that you will be ableto endureit.
For momentary,lightafflictionis producingfor us an eternalweightof gloryfarbeyondall comparison,
Then Davidsaidto himself,"NowI will perishonedayby the handof Saul.Thereis nothingbetterfor me thanto escapeinto the landof the Philistines.Saulthen will despairof searchingfor me anymorein allthe territoryof Israel,and I will escapefrom his hand."
