Guilt - 5 May 2009

“Speaking among themselves, they said “This has all happened because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his terror and anguish and heard his pleadings, but wouldn’t listen. That is why this trouble has come upon us.” “  Genesis 42:21 [NIV]

Feelings of guilt do not go away easily.  They are likely to return to us throughout our lives.

This was certainly the case with Joseph’s brothers. Years after they had treated him so badly they were now imprisoned in charged with being spies.  It did not take long for their guilt and shame to resurface, and having made that connection it did not take long to realise that the link between the two was God.

They recognised their guilt before God, felt his displeasure as a result of their actions and saw their predicament as a result of their own earlier sin.

Guilty men are in deep trouble when they are no longer troubled by their misdeeds. They may have squashed the feelings of guilt, hidden them away, and got on with their lives to their own satisfaction, but that guilt will keep coming back to haunt them throughout their lives.

The only way to handle guilt is to face it, as Joseph’s brothers faced their guilt.  Then confess it to the Lord, who knows about it anyway, and ask for his forgiveness.  We can then see him lift that guilt from us and feel his sense of joy and peace.  Then we must learn to forgive ourselves.

If God were to write a Guilt Report for you what do you think it would say?  I think mine might say something like, “Has reached a reasonable standard, but could do better.”

Lord teach us to accept your forgiveness and mercy, and let us learn to forgive ourselves.