# 405 What Has God Done To Us?

The Book of Genesis

Day 405

Ge 42:24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.  25 Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.  26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.  27 But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack.  28 So he said to his brothers, "My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!" Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, "What is this that God has done to us?"

Joseph decides to keep Simeon behind and ties him up in full view of his brothers. Then he gave the command to fill their sacks with grain, and to restore all their money, and load them up with provisions for the journey. As the brothers made camp, one of them opens his sack and discovers the money. “Then their hearts failed them , saying to one another, “What has God done to us?”

Hold it right there! I think God has His paintbrush out for us again and is painting a picture of grace!  Look at some of the words Joseph used in this command: Words like, “fill,” restore,” “give” and “provision.” These are all words of grace! Does not God “fill” us with His grace? Does He not “restore” us? And does He not “provide” for us on our journey home? “Thus He did for them!” Thus He will do for you!

That’s the heart of grace, God doing for us, rather than we doing for Him. Now, look at the brothers reaction to this “grace!” Their hearts failed them and they were afraid. This is a familiar response to the grace of God.  Heart stopping awe when the truth hits you that salvation is freely given at the great price of the blood of the Son of God!

This grace is so foreign to us, because our flesh fights it, we want to do something to contribute to our salvation, we distrust anything that is freely given and sometimes will go as far as to attach our own strings to the gift.  We want to do something to earn God’s favor, we want to make it to heaven on our own merit, but the Bible tells us that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags! Our best shot at goodness is no better than a stinky old rag and God says, “That’s the way I want it.” You get into my heaven only because of what I did for you.”

When that truth hits home, we must ask in holy fear along with Joseph’s brothers, “What is this that God has done for us.”