Tues.’s Devo - Freedom from Guilt

Read: Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47:14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10
Joseph changed his mind about keeping all the brothers. He only kept Simeon and let the others return home to get Benjamin. Joseph had planned for them to come right back but Jacob wouldn’t let them for fear that he would lose more than Simeon.
They found the silver in their sacks which was meant as a blessing but their guilt couldn’t see it as a gift. They felt that everything that was happening was their fault for what they did to Joseph, and it was. Joseph was testing them to see if they were repentant.
When they ran out of grain again, Jacob had to send them back. Rueben talked Jacob into letting them all go, promising that he would take full responsibility for their safety. Jacob had no choice, so they all returned with Benjamin. They offered double the silver but instead were told to keep their silver and invited for lunch. They were still afraid that any moment would turn into their own demise, but that was not Joseph’s intention at all. He sat them in the order they had sat all their lives - in birth order. When Joseph saw Benjamin, he had to leave the room to cry but came back composed. When the food was served, Benjamin was given 5 times as much as everyone else.
When I read this part of the story what sticks out to me is the way their guilt kept them from seeing the grace being extended to them. When we live in guilt, we will not understand others’ motives because we will see it through eyes of guilt and fear and condemnation. Only Jesus can take away our guilt of sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In the end, they did feast and drink freely so they were finally able to relax and receive. That is the position of a person walking in grace: we can eat and drink with the Lord freely with no condemnation.
In Matthew, Jesus told one last parable about the end time harvest and judgment. He explained that every teacher gives new revelation and old.
When Jesus came home, the people couldn’t accept the fact that one of their own could do such miracles. They took offense with him. Jesus explained that it is hard for a prophet or teacher to be accepted by those in his own hometown. It is hard for them to not see past the flesh.
John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. Because John had condemned Herod of taking his brother’s wife, he had imprisoned him. Herod enjoyed talking with John and respected him but his wife couldn’t stand John because he made her feel guilty. She tricked Herod into killing him. Once again guilt caused deception which lead to death.
When Herod’s officers heard about all the things Jesus was doing, they told Herod that it sounded like John had risen from the grave. I bet that had Herod’s wife shaking in her boots.
Funny, they thought that Jesus got his power to do miracles from John, but it was vice versa!
Lord, help us to shed any guilt we might have. Thank you for your blood that cleanses us and makes us righteous. May we continue to walk with clean hands and pure hearts.