Abandoned

I hadn't noticed it before. I've read the passage more times than I can count but go look for yourself. Simeon is abandoned. Genesis 42. Joseph says to his estranged brothers that he will hold Simeon as prisoner until they come back with Benjamin to Egypt. And Jacob will not hear of it. He abandons his son Simeon to rot in jail rather than risk the loss of Benjamin too. But what the heck! Does Simeon's life mean nothing? If you read to the next chapter he only let's them go back to Egypt because they're running out of food. In fact, the more I reflect on this account the more I'm mad at Jacob. I mean he's selfish. He can't stand the possibility of emotional pain and so he'll let his son, HIS SON sit in jail indefinitely.

And what did Simeon's wife and family think? I mean they must have felt betrayed, abandoned, and devalued. They are all expected to function without him, to grieve, to miss him. The rest of the brothers had their reunions with the family but Simeon's family has to hurt and ache. And Jacob sees his potential pain, the possibility of loosing Benjamin, as more important than the loss they are already experiencing. The great patriarch acts in fear and self-preservation. There is indication that he is distraught that Simeon did not return but he doesn't act or move to bring his family back together. He is passive.

God asks us to lay down our lives for one another. What did God think of Jacob's choice? The new testament would have me believe that he wants every last one of us. And I don't think He's passive. He wants us to act and, as the perfect example of love, I am confident that he persues those that are swept up by the enemy or running off on their own. He is not the passive father. He moves. He acts. He lays down everything and ignores the possibility of the rejection he may receive, the heartache that may await. And being God he already knows. He knows how hard and how painful it will be for him to pursue and not have his love returned and he does it anyway. He comes after all of us willing to pay the ransom. Yes, I am quiet sure that God would have done it differently than Jacob.