Hostage – Genesis 42:24

“Hostage”
“And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and
returned to them again, and communed with them, and took
from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.”
Genesis 42:24
Joseph was sold into slavery by his not-so-loving brothers.
So, he knew what it was like to be a hostage. Why he held
Simeon as a hostage instead of Reuben, I am not sure. Perhaps
because Simeon was a bloody man as seen in Genesis 34. I
will ask Joseph when I see him, and I’ll try not to speculate on
it. Simeon’s situation was different than most hostage stories,
because he was in the hands of a savior, his brother Joseph.
It is a horrendous ordeal that many Israelis are being held
hostage in Gaza. None can be sure of their fate; however, we
pray continually that all the hostages in the world are released
from their bondage, so they can return home. As I speak to
some periodically, I find that there are those who are being
held hostage in the area where I live. They are hostages of sin.
They are hostages of Satan, but the difference is that the devil
doesn’t have any demands, except for faithfully serving him.
His goal? Destruction on one’s soul. Coming out of sin may
not be easy; however, we have a Saviour that can break the
bonds of sin.
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover
themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive
by him at his will.” (II Tim. 2:25-26). There is no real
freedom without Jesus Christ! -G.W ..

Prepared by Roger Fulk, from excerpts from the “Baptist Bread” September 10, 2025, devotional by author REV. GARY WADDELL, Victory Ministries, Hartsville, TN With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread. The Baptist Bread