Don’t Fall Out
So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.” – Genesis 45:24 NKJV.
I like the way the old KJV puts this as: “See that ye fall not out by the way.” Other translations say: “Don’t argue,” “quarrel” or “fight.”
Joseph had made himself known to his brothers and was sending them back for the rest of the family. The mission is critical. The famine is raging. The family must be running out of food. For the brothers of Joseph to delay or be sidetracked by anything would have resulted in the loss of life. So, Joseph charges his brothers, “See that you do not become troubled (or fall out) along the way.” Joseph knows his brothers. He knew how prone they were to argue among themselves. He knew how prone they were to become sidetracked. They have their assignment. They must not fail!
Today the family of God is made up of all those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior, who have been born again as Jesus commands in John chapter three. The situation now for the family of God is much like it was as Joseph sent his brothers to bring the rest of the family to safety. Some of those who should be a part of the family of God have not yet been brought to safety. Jesus says in John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
We have been given a great assignment (Matthew 28:18-20), to bring to safety, to bring into the sheep fold of the Great Shepherd Jesus, all those who would hear and respond to His voice. For the brothers of Joseph there would be no rest, no retirement, until the family was brought to safety. How can we rest when those around us, meant to be included in the safety of the family of God are dying and going out into eternity without Jesus?
“See that you fall not out by the way.”