They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Genesis 42:21
Criminals are always looking behind them and all around. They are looking for the police, trying to avoid them. Fear is in their hearts that what they had done wrong will be found out. There is no trust in anyone, because they themselves are not trustworthy and have done something wrong.
If a crime goes unpunished long enough, most people will begin to stop fearing getting caught. They will live life as though nothing had been done wrong. Yet, some crimes can be punished many years later. For some crimes there is no statute of limitations.
Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery when he was young. Over the years most of them had begun to forget the fear of being punished for their sin. During a drought, they went to Egypt to get food, innocently thinking they were in the clear. Not knowing that it was Joseph they had to talk to, they were being held back and falsely accused. As this occurred, it immediately came to their mind what they had done so many years before. They realized they were being punished for their sin against Joseph.
Some believers often act in the same way. They will ‘hide’ a sinful act or habit from other people. They will act as though they are truly following God and nothing is ever wrong, while sinning on purpose. They will think that they are in the clear and no one sees it.
However, God sees all actions and thoughts. He knows what sins a person does. For the time it may seem that there will be no punishment, however, if left unrepentant, there will come a day of punishment. It may be in this life or after death at the judgement seat, but it will come.
As a believer, you are to turn from all sin and repent of the sin. God is ready and willing to forgive, but if you do not allow Him to forgive, there will be punishment in store.
Allow God to change your life with forgiving you and strengthening you for a new life following Him. Do not hide your sin, but give them to God. He loves you and will forgive you.
I pray today that you will know the love of God in your life; that you will turn from sin to God; that you will repent of sin; and that you will know God’s forgiveness in your life.
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