Greetings
Hope has it been for you when you’ve confronted your own sin and acknowledged your wrong? Not always an easy road. Can you imagine Joseph’s brothers’ journey to reunion? Something to chew while we meditate on today’s Holy Nougat™
“Sir,” they said, “there are actually twelve of us. We, your servants, are all brothers, sons of a man living in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is back there with our father right now, and one of our brothers is no longer with us.” Genesis 42:13 NLT
What could have moved all TEN brothers to honesty? Was it grief, guilt or their conscience? Note, they did not indicate that the brother was dead or missing, just that he was no longer with them. Those were the facts.
Could they still feel grief about Joseph’s disappearance/death and on remembering that the traders were en route Egypt, the memories and perhaps a little guilt came crashing back? Aside from the depth of their fathers grief, could it also be that the Spirit of Truth was upon them the moment they encountered the Man of God, although they did not recognize him?
Whatever their motivation, we know that when we have sinned God expects total honesty, acceptance for our sins not justification or blaming another.
When we read the last frame of the saga (further on in Genesis), we note that Joseph forgave the brothers and had them settled in the most arable parts of Egypt.
Confession. Repentance. Grace & Forgiveness. Reward. Good stuff.
A foreshadowing of what God has in store for us when when we truly repent? Hmmm.
In Christ’s love and grace
