And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
	Genesis 45:23–24
Here Joseph says, “I’m giving you everything you need to make the journey from where you are to where I am. Just see to it that you don’t fall out by the way.” It’s easy to fall out by the way. It’s easy to say, “My body is hurting. My stocks are dropping. My head is spinning. And it’s time to kick back a bit.” But our greater than Joseph would say to us, “Don’t do it. Don’t fall back. Don’t give up.” In this regard, it’s sobering to realize that Jesus told us only one-fourth of the seeds scattered would go on to bear significant fruit . . . In some people, the seed of the Word falls in soil and springs up quickly. But then comes the heat - tragedies, setbacks, and difficulties - that causes it to shrivel. In others, the cares of this world, the lust for riches, and the desire for other things are like weeds that choke out the Word. In others, the Word doesn’t take root at all. But some falls on soil where its roots grow deep and where it goes on to bring forth much fruit (Matthew 13). Over the years, I’ve known those whose roots have gone deep into the soil of the Word, whose lives have borne much fruit, who despite setbacks and shortcomings, have not fallen out of the way. May we be those kinds of people.