157. Wala ka sa Lolo ko; when he is afraid, he puts his trust in God

15 May 2021

“Don’t be afraid.” Genesis 43:23

Genesis 43

17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. 

18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them,

they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.

“My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”

Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:25-28)

The silver of each of Joseph's brothers was supposed to be payment for the grain they got but was put back in each sack, giving the impression that they did not pay for the grain, that they cheated.

So they were afraid to return to Egypt after the grain they got had been consumed.

I was afraid, my daughter was accused of cheating.

I have written about my 2 daughters attending a university on free tuition all the while that I had no stable employment, what a privilege in Jesus Christ.

Let me mention a particular incident that caused me and my wife to feel somewhat afraid.

One daughter was implicated for cheating in her last semester. What a let down.

I communicated with the University official thru, to wit:

"I am writing to seek your assistance as parents would for the welfare of their children. I understand that you have expressed moral support for my daughter's group and I am heartened by such gesture of yours.

I came to know about the said issue Friday evening when my daughter cried to her mother after getting a call. My daughter appeared to have been caught completely by surprise, that the issue has already reached the Office of Student Affairs. My wife and I felt really hurt that somebody has spoken very ill of our daughter without the benefit of hearing her side.

A teacher can always lose his patience and put his students at his mercy. But such would defeat the very expectation for such a vocation. I happen to be also teaching part-time in a college in Lipa, handling a class which includes some of my daughter's high school classmates.

My daughter is truly hurt by such allegation of dishonesty. It might be an exaggeration, but my wife and I are more than hurt. Imagine, the possibility of expulsion considering that she is a scholar at that. Imagine what would her benefactor think of such issue."

Part of the reply I got.

"I appreciate your concern over your daughter's welfare and I would personally like to tell you that we are also concerned.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you feel you need further clarification on the matter. Please tell your daughter that I am fully aware and in control of the situation. The letter has not been sent to the Office of Student Affairs."

Psalm 56

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4 In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?

My daughter's group was cleared, and she graduated with honors.

That was in late 2005, I put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the previous year.

"Lord, Judah and his brothers were afraid and in misery - "Then Judah went up to him and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, let me speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father." "How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father"" Genesis 44:18, 32-34). Lord, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You" (Psalm 56:3). I " Cast all my anxiety on You because You care for me" (1 Peter 5:7); with thanksgiving this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen."

Wala ka sa Lolo ko; when he is afraid, he puts his trust in God, this my children's children will utter someday.

May you be blessed with God's Word. Amen.

Maraming salamat.