"We are truly guilty."
Genesis 42:21
Imagine the years of heavy guilt borne by Joseph’s brothers.
They not only sold their brother to slavery; but they also told
their father that his favorite son was attacked and eaten by a
beast. Few acts of betrayal were so
devious and deliberate.
Perhaps, their deception brought them a
time of satisfaction.
They were angry over Jacob’s favoritism of
Joseph. But, as
weeks, months, and years passed, the guilt
became heavier
and harder to bear. Finally, Genesis 42,
they confessed their
wrongs, not knowing Joseph was listening. When they said,
“We are truly guilty,” Joseph had to leave the room in tears.
None of us are without guilt, for we have all sinned and
fallen short of God’s glory. We’ve all disobeyed God and
hurt other people. What, then, can we do with guilt? We
can either bear it ourselves, blame someone else, or
nail it to the cross of Christ.
We also learn that lying sows destruction, but truth is
liberating. The Bible says, “He who covers his sins will
not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them
will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Live under the blood
of Christ and above the reproach of the world. Our guilt
is no match for His grace.
"No child of God sins to that degree as
to make himself incapable of forgiveness."
John Bunyan
