Too Good To Be True?

Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.” [Genesis 42.21]

It had been many years since Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. And, if anything is "clear" from this passage of Scripture, it is that Joseph's brothers had carried the guilt of their offence against Joseph ever since they sold him and then lied to Jacob about his fate.

I imagine every time Adam tilled the ground in back-breaking sweat and pain, he could not help but recall his sin against God in eating with his wife from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It must have been a terribly punishing feeling.

There are so many possible 'lessons' from Joseph and his brothers in this story, but it stands out to me today that guilt is a terrible thing to have to live with. I think all of us know to some degree what that is like.

What is amazing about this story though is the fact that the very thing that caused the brothers' guilt was the very thing ultimately through which they were being saved from starvation. Their sin of selling of Joseph into slavery was the very act that put Joseph into position to save them from starvation in years to come. Go figure.

Like the brothers of Joseph, we must all come to the place that we confess our sin. And, when we do, there is no reason we cannot confidently look to God to redeem the situation for good (which He is always willing to do - because He is good and His faithful love endures forever).

It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Just ask Joseph's brothers how good it is!

Father, You are good and Your faithful love endures forever. I have made many many mistakes - some of them in ugly outright selfish disobedience. Forgive me for my pathetic self-centeredness and pride. Forgive me for my laziness and apathy. Forgive me for my greed and faithlessness. Please redeem my ugly circumstances as only You can do. And, may You be glorified in so doing!