42:21 "Then they said to one another, 'Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.' "
What hit me about this was that when things went bad on the trip to Egypt, the first thing that popped in the brother's head was what they did to Joseph. I have to believe this means that it was already on the forefront of their minds for it to have so easily come up as the reason for their trouble. And I went back and did some math, and Joseph would have been 17 or 18 when they sold him off and lied to their father, and he would have been 37 or 38 when they made this comment. That's 20 years! That's long time to be walking around with something weighing on your soul so much that when trouble hits, it's the first thing that you think of!
If you consider the fact that Jacob still believed at this time that Joseph was dead, that means that none of the brothers ever confessed to their father. If they didn't confess to their father, it's very likely that they never confessed to God and repented. I see, in that moment that they despaired over retribution for their sin, a lesson about seeking forgiveness. How terrible it must have been to bear that sin for 20 years! There's also a lesson in just plain not sinning to begin with. Even if God forgave them, that doesn't mean God wouldn't punish them on earth for it.
When we sin, we should immediately run to God and ask forgiveness. Sin creates a rift between man and God... even in the lives of believers. The longer you hold onto that sin, the longer you'll be apart from an intimate relationship with your true Father.
Lord, help me to avoid sin. But when I do sin, draw me to my knees in forgiveness so that I may draw near to You again. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation, and renew a clean spirit within me.
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3 comments:
Dave, thanks for your perseverance with your blog. It is such an encouragement to me and ministers to me each time I read it! I love it.
Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for God’s seed remains in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 Jn.3:9 below).
Whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and the wicked one (Satan) touches him not (1 Jn.5:18 below).
We were born into this present evil world (Gal.1:4) as Jews and Gentiles and are all under sin (Rom.3:9 below), but once we are baptized (Eph.4:5) into Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit (Jn.6:44) we become a “new” creature (2 Cor.5:17, Gal.6:15), we become individually, as well as collectively, the living body of Christ Jesus (Col.1:24). We BECOME the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 below, 1 Cor.1:2, 1 Cor.15:9, Gal.1:13). The church of God are saints of the most High (Dan.7:22, Re.15:3 below).
We were chosen by Christ BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph.1:4 below, Col.1:22, 2 Cor.11:2). We in Christ Jesus are in His love as the church of God.
There is no condemnation (Jn.5:24, Rom.8:1) to those who are in Christ Jesus. The church of God are called according to God's purpose (1Cor.1:2). We are foreknown and predestinated to be conformed to the image of God's son (Rom.8:29-30). The church of God are justified, glorified, sanctified, and perfect in Christ Jesus (Col.1:28, Matt.5:48).
In Christ Jesus we pass FROM death UNTO life (Jn.5:24), immediately upon death (2 Cor.5:8).
1 Jn.3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 Jn. 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Rom.3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved BOTH Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
1 Cor.10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
Dan.7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High (Re.15:3 below); and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Re.15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints (Dan.7:22 above).
Eph.1:4 According as he (Christ) hath CHOSEN US in him BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Pat (ndbpsa ©) Bible Prophecy on the Web
Patricia -
Wow. So I had to read over your comment a couple times to get an idea of what your position is. I'm going to try to summarize your position so I can respond; let me know if I'm not understanding you correctly.
"Dave, you're wrong because believers don't ever sin and never experience any separation from God"
If that is your position, I just have a couple of thoughts:
1. I know I'm a believer, and I know I sin. I don't know much about you, but if you really don't sin, that puts you on the same level as God... are you sure you want to elevate yourself to that point? You quoted two verses from 1 John, tell me what you think of these from the same book: 2:1; 3:7,8 (note the use of the word "practices"); 5:16. I would say that John is saying believers to not *practice* or *habitually* sin. Perfection will not be attained in this life.
2. If we can agree that believers sin, then we have to answer the question of how does God interact with a believer who has sinned but not yet asked for forgiveness and repented? I would like to know your thoughts on Psalms 51. Read that and try to tell me a child of God can't sin or experience a loss of intimate relationship with God. I do believe God will never leave us completely (Rom 8:38,39), but I also believe that sin creates a rift between God and man and that the relationship is altered until reconciliation is achieved.
My last word to back up my original post will again come from 1 John:
1 John 1:8-10 "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
Please let me know what you think! God Bless!
Dave
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