Gen 43:10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.
The famine was severe. They had consumed all the corn they had purchased. Jacob directed his sons to return to Egypt to buy corn. Judah explained they needed to bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them this time for it was the condition set by Joseph if they were to return again. Jacob was reluctant. Both Joseph and Benjamin were the sons of his favourite wife, Rachel. He thought he had already lost Joseph; he couldn’t afford to lose Benjamin. But Judah said he would take all possible care of Benjamin, and to do his utmost for his safety. He said: “If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice" (Gen 43:10, ESV).
Judah said if they had not wasted all this time, they could already have been there and back twice. That was how long they had “lingered” and not made the journey because Jacob would not allow them to bring their youngest brother along.
The word “linger” means to delay or prolong departure; to be slow to act; procrastinate. They kept delaying and did not make the journey as they ought to; they procrastinated.
A procrastinator is a person who delays or puts things off — like work, chores, or other actions — that should be done in a timely manner. Procrastinator comes from the Latin verb procrastinare, which means deferred until tomorrow.
Procrastination is telling us we’ll do things "tomorrow" or "when I feel more like it." Everyone delays or puts things off sometimes, and that's fine. Procrastination becomes a problem only when it hinders your relationships or getting your work done.
A procrastinator is a time waster. He will not get to start on his homework until he has played a game or watched a video on his handphone. Then, when he has finished playing or watching, he says he needs to check his Facebook. Why are our kids sleeping at 1 or 2am? It is because by the time they start doing their work, it is already 11pm.
A procrastinator will do his work at some convenient time. Do you remember Felix? Felix was a Roman governor who heard Paul’s preaching. And as he heard Paul reasoned concerning temperance and the judgement to come, he trembled. The reason he trembled was because his conscience was awakened and he knew he had sinned. But instead of responding to the gospel call of salvation, he delayed his decision. He said to Paul: “Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25).
Instead of asking what he should do, Felix sent the messenger of God away. This was his golden opportunity, but - like multitudes still - he missed it. That convenient time never came. How many Felixes have appeared from age to age! Where will they be in the day of Judgement?
The greatest decision in our life is not choosing the right partner; it is choosing where we will spend in eternity. Each day, many died in road or industrial accidents. They will stand in judgement unprepared to meet their God. They want to linger a little longer in this world. They want to finish their education and build up their career. Then, they want to raise a family and bring up their children. Many have heard the gospel but they want to settle the issues of this life first before they settle down with God.
The scripture warns: “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb 3:15). Nothing in this world is as sure as death. And oftentimes, death does not give advance warning of its coming.
We remember Lot. Lot lingered when he was told to quickly leave his house for God would destroy Sodom (Gen 19:16). He was weighing his decision whether to stay or believe the words of the two strangers and fled. But for Lot, he had two angels who dragged him out of his house.
How long will you linger on this earth before you will serve the Lord? Christians are known to put off their decision to serve God until some convenient time. They are too busy right now with their earthly things and so they say they will serve God when the time is right. Rarely the right time arrived?
“For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time” (Gen 43:10). If we had not put off our services to God, we would have served Him many times over. Let us be fruitful workers for the Lord: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58).
Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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