Reading: Genesis 42

Joseph’s life continues to preview Christ, by bringing his brethren to a place of true repentance for their sin of heart demonstrated by their murder, envy and betrayal; which was demonstrated in their plot to murder him. Joseph uses harsh measures to awaken and convince his brother’s harden consciences to a place of repentance.  Sin hardens the heart which then requires hard times to break through hard-heartedness.

…But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13

That’s why John the Baptist had to precede Jesus Christ.  The “hard Word” of repentance prepared the hard heartedpeople for the coming of their God who was to bring good news.  God’s Word that changes our hearts often makes tears, before it dries them; God’s Word evokes sadness before joy.

… Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalms 30:5 (NLT)

Only in the heart saddened by a true repentance, claimed by the fore-running Law, springs up the joyous assurance of the Gospel flowing from faith in the Atonement (of our sin by His blood.) God’s mission is not only the forgiveness of sin but the remission (removal) of sin from our lives. Hebrews 9:22 When truly repentant there is a heart change towards sin. We change how we feel about what we’re doing because we’re grieved by our sin. God can’t take away what we still want. We have to ask God for a heart change, a shifting of desire before sin can be removed. God is amazing in how He breaks through heard hearts. Joseph’s brothers were paid by silver coins when they sold Joseph into slavery years earlier. Joseph had their silver coins secretly hidden in the mouths of the bags containing the food they had purchased. The hidden blessing revealed the hidden sin. The goodness of God leads men to repentance. (Romans 2:4) The brothers had no fear of the Lord when they betrayed Joseph but they sure were afraid when they saw those silver coins in their bag and they related it to God punishing them for what they had done in the past. Is anything hidden that’s hardening your heart today? Ask God to show you and to change your heart?

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24  

Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.   Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Psalms 51:10,11

Written by Ron Satrape