Gen 43:10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

Gen 43:10  For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.  Genesis 43 records Joseph’s brethren second trip to Egypt. The famine had been severe in Canaan. They had finished the food they brought back from the first trip. But they delayed in making a second trip to Egypt. After a long delay, Jacob directed them to go back to Egypt to buy food. Judah replied they could not return to Egypt without Benjamin. Jacob was reluctant to let Benjamin leave him, having lost Joseph more than twenty years ago. But they were desperately in need of food. In the end, Judah convinced his father to let Benjamin to go with them. He said: “For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time” (v.10). To linger is to delay. Judah is saying: “If we hadn't delayed, we could have been there and back twice by now.” Judah’s words reveal they had been delaying the second trip for a very long time. Why did Jacob and his sons linger to go to Egypt? 1. Because Jacob refused to let Benjamin go. Jacob was afraid to lose Benjamin just as he thought he had lost Joseph. 2. Because they feared the worst for Benjamin. They had no idea what Joseph would do to him. 3. Because they were afraid to meet Joseph. Joseph was very harsh to them. He imprisoned one of them. They were afraid Joseph might put all of them in prison. But they ran out of food! They had only two choices – die of hunger or go meet their fear. Why do we linger when it comes to serving God? 1. Fear. Fear causes us to stagnate. It could be due to lack of confidence, fear of failure, or a critical membership. Moses was fearful when God called him to lead Israel out of Egypt. He made lots of excuses as to why he wasn’t the best person to do it. Even when God said He would be with him and be his mouth, he still said: “Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:12, 13). God gave him a co-worker. Don’t work alone; get co-workers. When individuals work together, they can double their strength and get much more done as a team. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11, 12). It takes a teamwork to do it. 2. Lack of Conviction. When we don’t think a work is important or worthwhile, we procrastinate. Is the work of God worth our time and energy? I believe it is. Heaven is surely worth it all. Do you believe heaven is real? Do you desire to go to heaven? If one is not convinced there is a place called heaven, he will not work his way there. A firm conviction will motivate us to serve God: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). Don’t put off your decision to serve God to another day. Many are so caught up with the affairs of this life they say they will serve God when they have settled this life’s affairs. They linger and that day never come. How will they meet God in the Judgement Day? Serve God today! “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). Don’t linger; serve God today.