Jacob sends some of his sons to buy grain, some, not all. Benjamin, the youngest, and Joseph's brother, is kept at home for fear that something may happen to him. He isn't allowed to take to the road on this adventure with his brothers. His father is worries and keeps him safely at home where he can keep an eye on him.
I understand Jacob wanting to protect his child, but here we have the first record of an over protective parent. Jacob is worried something will happen to Benjamin, and he doesn't let him go.
Men, we can't be everywhere at every moment with our children, we just can't, and it isn't healthy for us to be the helicopter dad that never let's the kid out of arms reach. Yes, there are times and situations when that is exactly what you need to do, but we have to learn to let them go.
The day will come when they leave for the first day of Kindergarten, you can't be there with them. They day will come when they go off to college, and you are staying home. They graduate and move out of state, and you aren't moving in with them. We have to be able to let go, and if we want our children to do well during these moments, we have to give them the opportunities to try before hand.
Now, of course, I urge wisdom and caution. Know where your children are, who they are with, and what they are doing. Jacob would have known, Benjamin's with his older brothers on the road to Egypt to buy grain. Don't allow your children to engage in harmful and destructive behavior, and keep them away from those who seek to lead them astray. But don't hold them back from the good experiences, encourage them to take them. As you do they'll learn confidence so they are able to take the big steps when the time comes.
And if you're not sure how to begin my suggestion is prayer. Start with something simple, "God, protect them from the things I can't keep them safe from. Watch over them when I can't be there to do it." Remember your children aren't yours, they are God's. He has entrusted them to you, and He is always watching over them.
Men, don't hold your children back from living life, let them go.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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