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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The DEEP

Heart Faith

takes practice.

Genesis 43:1-14 (ESV)

Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Jacob has to let them go. His hand is forced and he recognizes that. He knows that God is God and he’s willing to trust Him to take care of his sons – though he’d rather not.

This is a perfect example of head faith that hasn’t been fully converted into heart faith. Jacob knows in his mind that God is in control, but his feelings haven’t caught up yet. He’s not comfortable with trusting God. In a way, Jacob is sure that he can trust God, but he’s not sure-sure.

Many Christians get stuck at this stage. You can only learn so much by reading and studying; some things just have to be experienced.

It’s like learning to trust a parachute. The only way to break out of head-only-faith is to jump out of an airplane. You don’t really know that the parachute works until you’ve felt it pop open.

Israel has decided to jump.


There’s a danger in this lesson; Christians are not called to be reckless. If you think God is calling you to do something you’re afraid of, don’t assume your fear is wrong. Run your plans by someone you respect.

This is the other side of accountability. Christian fellowship isn’t just about being called out any more than it’s just about having fun. Sometimes common sense advice is what's needed.


The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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