Joseph's Life StoryНамуна

Joseph’s brothers deceive their father to cover their sin  

After the brothers have sold Joseph, they’ll have to return home and tell their father what happened. But it is very clear that Jacob won’t be pleased to hear what they have done! The brothers come up with a very mean trick: they make father Jacob think that Joseph has been torn to pieces by some wild animal. Afterwards they try to comfort him when he mourns and weeps… What disgusting hypocrisy to cover up their own guilt!

Their lie breaks Jacob’s heart, and he will spend years mourning before he finds out the truth. But this lie will also continue to haunt the brothers. Their consciences can’t find rest. About twenty years later, when they go to Egypt to buy food and face trouble there, they conclude: “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” And Reuben answered them, “[…] Now there comes a reckoning for his blood” (Genesis 42:21-22).

If we don’t confess our sins, they can’t be forgiven. They will keep haunting us, and especially if we keep our sins secret from our loved ones, life will become almost unbearable. That’s what David experienced as well. He found out that it is far better to acknowledge your sin and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Only then can you experience peace again.

Have you ever committed a sin that you covered up with lies? Don’t wait to confess it and ask God and the people involved for forgiveness!