Taking Responsibility

Background Scripture: Genesis 44
Lesson Scripture: Genesis 44:18–32

Introduction

In the creation when God set all things in order, He placed Adam in the garden of Eden and instructed him to dress and keep it. God gave Adam and Eve a commandment, making them responsible to obey Him. They were not faithful in this responsibility, and God pronounced judgment on them for their disobedience.

The Bible gives sufficient instruction on what is pleasing to God and what is displeasing to Him. A broken spirit and a contrite heart are acceptable to God, and hereby man finds grace in His eyes. Our first responsibility is to love God and, after that, to love our fellowman.

“What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Mic. 6:8). May this injunction not be too difficult—surely we can understand its meaning and apply to our everyday life. Unwillingness to follow God’s order with its resulting disobedience will bring many perplexing problems.

Key Verse

O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee (Dan. 9:8).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

In the beginning when God asked Cain about his brother Abel, Cain replied with the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Our lesson contains the sad story of a family who likewise failed in their responsibility toward their own brother. The ten sons of Jacob had caused him much grief by their evil doings; they were well aware that they had seriously failed their brother Joseph and had brought much sorrow to their father. Their irresponsibility had caused needless suffering for the family. It seems that not one of them had the courage to own up to his guilt of selling Joseph into slavery. Nevertheless, when they met opposition in Egypt, they quickly determined their difficulties to be punishment from God for selling Joseph.

It had been twenty-two years since Jacob had been led to believe that his son Joseph was dead. The unraveling of truth in our lesson scripture signals the end of Jacob’s long-held anguish and grief.

Joseph spoke to his brothers through an interpreter so they were not aware that he understood their discussion. Joseph knew that their attitude and action toward him in the past had been wrong, but he wondered if they held the same feeling toward Benjamin. It is likely that Joseph remembered that Judah was the one who had suggested that they sell him to the Ishmaelites. When Judah stepped forward and pled for Benjamin, offering to take responsibility for the penalty and let Benjamin go free, it became evident to Joseph that his brothers’ attitudes had changed.

Joseph could have taken the revenge that his brothers expected, but he feared God and rather chose to forgive them. Forgiveness toward our fellowmen is a God-given responsibility. Forgiveness worked a marvelous peace between Joseph and his brothers.

While Joseph was a slave in Egypt, he was free of guilt, even when he was a prisoner. God was with him and prospered his endeavors and gave him extraordinary wisdom. But his brothers were apprehensive and lived with the fear that judgment and punishment would fall upon them because of their misdeeds. What a miserable way to live, but pride and self-protection hinders many from freedom. Because humility is contrary to man’s nature, many people live in bondage.

Practical Truths for Today

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). A beggar with many sores lay at a rich man’s gate, but the rich man ignored his responsibility to help Lazarus. (Luke 16:19–21). The beggar did not ask help for his sores; he desired only the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. God brought the rich man into judgment for his lack of compassion. It appears that if he had been given another opportunity, he would have responded differently.

The Bible teaches that we should bear one another’s burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus used the account of the Samaritan as an example of how to bear someone’s burden (Luke 10:30–37). The man who helped the one beaten and left for dead was not asked to help, but he took responsibility voluntarily. Jesus also reflected on the others who saw the need but dismissed the thought of taking responsibility to help the one in trouble. In modern society it is common to not get involved in the difficulties other people are be facing. However, as Christians we must take responsibility to bear the good news of God’s love to mankind and tell of His desire to heal their hurts. We are responsible to tell the world that God is always looking for those who are in trouble and estranged from Him.

The nature of man is to deny wrongdoing, to shift the blame to someone else, or to place the blame on circumstances beyond his control. When someone honestly claims responsibility for his sins, he is halfway to the cross. As we accept our guilt, the saving grace of God begins to enter our life. And when the prodigal son “came to himself, he said, . . . I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants” (Luke 15:17–19). He repented, went home, and became useful to his father. Likewise, sinners must first repent of their sins and find reconciliation with God in order to be useful to Him.

To excuse ourselves from responsibility does not set us free. Joseph’s brothers knew that they had wronged their brother. The feeling of guilt followed them, and there was no escape. They also realized the intense grief this caused their father, and they feared the judgment of God for their actions. One cannot plea-bargain with God nor diminish his guilt by reasoning. To repent and confess our faults gains forgiveness from God and is a good way to build confidence among brethren.

Confessing our faults one to another creates a bond of love between Christians that is truly a God-given blessing. The self-esteem that is evidenced when we are reluctant to take responsibility for our humanity is distasteful to others and hinders the free flow of Christian love. On the other hand, when we take responsibility for something that has not turned out as expected, and we give respect and proper consideration to the work of others, the door opens to serve effectively in whatever capacity we are called.

Faithful service to God will not set us on a pinnacle of greatness; rather, it will set us in a place of servitude. Pride has no place in discharging the responsibilities that God desires of His children. Those who attain positions of leadership are vulnerable to failure if they became exalted in their minds. When King Saul took liberties contrary to the will of God, he was told that when he was little in his own eyes he was chosen to be the king of Israel. When Samuel told Saul that God had chosen a better man to be king, he lost all respect for the will of God. He failed miserably in his God-given responsibility because of pride of will.

God has no covert for the slothful. It takes work and funds to maintain a home as well as a church and works best if all are interested and involved. Much time, money, and effort goes into the construction and operation of our homes, schools and churches. A willing heart to cooperate and a ready mind to work produce a peaceful and blessed atmosphere among workers. We may not be chosen for the job we prefer, but there are usually tasks that a person can volunteer to do. All are not leaders, but all can be helpers. In Matthew 20:6–7 Jesus asks, “Why stand ye here all the day idle? . . . Go ye also into the vineyard.”

Illustration

Perhaps Jacob’s sons suffered from Leah’s chronic jealousy toward Rachel. In the children, this jealousy developed into hatred to the point that they considered murdering Joseph because they felt misused. Though they did not kill Joseph, their passion prevailed to the point that they sold their brother to be an Egyptian slave.

Did they have similar feelings toward Benjamin? Joseph put them to the test by having his silver cup placed in Benjamin’s sack. When they were confronted with stealing the cup, they offered that whoever had the cup would die and the rest would be his servants. But when the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, they were very distressed. They could have said that it was Benjamin’s problem and continued on their way. But Judah had pledged to be surety for Benjamin, so he stepped forward and rehearsed the situation which had brought Benjamin there. He did not deny that the cup was stolen. The evidence was clear. But Judah pled for Benjamin to be freed and said that he would bear the blame.

Joseph had confidence in the repentance of his brothers and promised them a place in Egypt where he would nourish them. What a heart-touching reunion resulted from this confidence! There was weeping, embracing, and full forgiveness for their wrongs to him.

Questions

1. What are ways to help those who hesitate to take responsibility because it may cost them time or money?
2. Is fear of failure or unwillingness to get involved the greater deterrent to taking responsibility?
3. Past disappointments in service may prevent us from wanting to be responsible. Discuss
4. What are practical ways to “stand in the gap” today? (Ezek. 22:30).
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).