Scripture Reading: Genesis 44:14-34
When Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him, Judah was a willing participant in the betrayal. Later, Judah proposed selling Joseph to Ishmaelite merchants en route to Egypt (Genesis 37:26-27). Given the alternative of killing Joseph, perhaps that was an act of compassion. The brothers conspired to allow their father to think Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Their actions brought years of bereavement to their father and required decades of collusion to cover up their deceit.
When the brothers came to Egypt to buy food during the famine, it was Joseph from whom they had to make their purchases. Joseph recognized them and set out to test their character. Had they learned anything in the nearly 22 years since their betrayal, or were they still the vindictive, jealous and selfish men he had known as a teen? Would they “sell off” Benjamin to remain in Egypt in order to save themselves?
Given the opportunity to buy their freedom by abandoning Benjamin, the brothers stood firm in their resolve to save their brother. It was Judah, who led the plot to sell Joseph, who made the appeal to Joseph for Benjamin to return home to their father, even offering to remain behind in Benjamin’s stead. Having recognized the error of his past, Judah is unwilling to make the same mistake of betraying a brother again.
A retest gives a person who failed the first test an opportunity to demonstrate they have learned the material and negotiated past the errors made on the first test. The exact problems may not appear on the retest, but the lesson to be learned and mastered will be the same. A former Prison Ministry colleague would tell inmates, “If you’ve ever failed a test, know that you will see that material again. God keeps giving you the same test until you pass!”
Failed a test recently? We have all failed tests in this life—it is inevitable. Don’t despair, God, the great teacher of all times, will be administering a retest. The retest is designed for you to pass; God wants you to succeed! Are you ready for the makeup exam?
Lesson to Remember: Failing the test is not the problem, it is failing to prepare for the retest that is the issue!
“Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more.”—Job 34:32
