Tues.’s Devo - The Curse of Guilt and the Blessing of Forgiveness

Read: Genesis 42:18-43:34; Matthew 13:47-14:12; Psalm 18:16-36; Proverbs 4:7-10 After Joseph’s brothers had been in prison three days, he brought them out and told them one of them must stay until the others brought their brother back. *** Reuben concluded that all of this was happening because of how they treated Joseph. He reminded them that he had tried to tell them not to do it, but they wouldn’t listen. Now they were having to answer for their sin. *** This told Joseph that Reuben was innocent, so he chose the second born to be responsible. He kept Simeon in prison and sent the rest home. He had his servants put their money back in the top of their sacks to bless them. *** When they found the money, instead of being blessed, they felt cursed. That is the power of guilt; it taints everything through that lens. *** They shared with their father what had happened and he swore Benjamin would not be going to Egypt. So, Simeon was stuck in prison. When they ran out of grain, Reuben was able to talk his father into letting Benjamin go with them and assured with his own life, that he would return. Jacob had then take gifts and twice the money, just in case it was an accident that there money was restored to them. *** When they entered Egypt and Joseph saw that Benjamin was with them, he told his manager that these men would be eating with him. The manager led them to Joseph’s palace and once again their guilt robbed them of the blessing. They were terrified instead and immediately confessed that their money had been restored to them and they had brought it back, and more, to pay for the next grain. The manager knew what was going on and assured them he had received their money. This was not about the money. He released Simeon to them and gave them water and fed their donkeys. They were told they would eat there, so they prepared their gifts to give to Joseph. *** Joseph arrived and they bowed down before him again. He asked about their father and found out he was still alive. He addressed Benjamin and had to leave the room to compose himself. He came back refreshed and had the food brought in. He sat them in their birth order and they were amazed, but none of them caught on that this was Joseph. He was giving them small clues to show them that he knew things about them that no one should know as a stranger, just like all the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, and yet there were teachers of the law who missed the clues and refused to believe he was the promised Messiah. *** In Matthew, Jesus told the last parable about the Kingdom of Heaven and the great threshing the angels are doing - separating the good from the wicked. There is a difference between sinners and the wicked. Sinners are all of us before Christ. Sinners can be converted but the wicked have no grid for repentance or love. They are Satan’s seeds that he scattered on the earth. *** Not all of the religious leaders rejected Christ. The ones who did were able to add the new teachings of Christ to the old teachings of the law and the prophets. This was the last thing Jesus taught them before he left and went back home to Nazareth. *** He taught on the Sabbath in the synagogue and the people wanted to know where he got his wisdom and power to do miracles because they could not get past the fact that he was Mary and Joseph’s son. They were offended and refused to believe in him. Jesus told them that a prophet is honored everywhere but at home and left, not being able to do many miracles because of their unbelief. *** Herod Antipas heard about Jesus and thought he must be John the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod had been tricked into beheading John the Baptist and now his guilt had caused him to live in fear also. *** It is built into our DNA that sin requires judgment. Both Joseph’s brothers and Herod lived looking over their shoulders because of their guilt. Jesus came to take away our guilt and shame away so we can walk in freedom. Hallelujah! *** Lord, thank you for the cross! Thank you for your great gift of salvation and your invitation for us to live in your kingdom. We choose to live in your presence with your laws and under your authority.