"Jacob’s decision to keep Benjamin at home to prevent him from perishing is altogether human and foolish, as though Benjamin could not die at home or as though his welfare and life were placed in Jacob’s power. If such a great patriarch, a man provided with such great promises, displays such weakness, what courage do you think you or I will have in dangers and trials?
These things, then, are written to instruct and comfort us (Rom. 15:4), in order that we may learn to trust God steadfastly and nevertheless to be concerned about our descendants and the duties entrusted to us by God. For one should not think: “I am the pastor of a church about which I know that God is concerned. Therefore I shall do nothing and shall not be concerned about my ministry.” Thus the head of a household should not be lazy and slothful; but everyone must be vigilant and toil in his station. For God does not forbid toil and does not want us to be idle, even though He governs everything by His presence and will. But the flesh must be trained by dangers, trials, terrors, and uncertain events. Nevertheless, the promise and faith must be preserved. Faith must precede, and at the same time prayer and the works that one’s vocation requires must be practiced. Although works contribute nothing to the matter, still God wants us to eat our bread in the sweat of our faces (cf. Gen. 3:19)."
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