Living With the Past

Past sin can be a burden—a great weight upon a person—because everything that goes wrong seems like just retribution—like deserved punishment.

At least that was how it worked for Joseph’s brothers. They had hated Joseph when he was young, so they got rid of him by selling him into slavery. Years later, when accused of spying, they were sure their sin had caught up with them.

Years later! How many other ventures-gone-wrong throughout their lives had seemed only fair to them—because they had sinned a terrible sin.

The brothers had no idea the boy would prosper as he matured—that he was, in fact, the very official accusing them. Talking between themselves they said things like, we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us. (Gen. 42:21 NKJV)

Their sin against Joseph did not relate to spying against Egypt. It couldn’t. But they made the association because they lived with a burden of guilt.

Through a miracle of God’s grace, Joseph had learned to forgive. He comforted his brothers: God sent me before you to preserve life . . . to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Gen.l 45:5,7)

Through his forgiveness, Jospeh overlooked the guilt of the past and blessed his brothers.

Originally published July 3, 1992.