Yes, Joseph’s brothers were troubled from a guilty conscience
When life gets tough, strengthen yourself in the Lord – learn a lesson from Joseph’s journey of destiny – part 16
Many people do evil things, feeling they can get away with it. Later in life, evils boomerang and nemesis’ catch up; the consequences are regrettable for life. The guilt of the evil doing pricks their conscience if they live unrepented. Even for those who have repented from their evil acts, there is always that feeling wishing the evil deeds were never perpetrated.
Think before you do anything bad, or else, a guilty conscience will trouble you.
Some people committed the act of wickedness with the notion that their wickedness could never leak. However, when that wickedness turns out for good to their intended prey, they are short of breath and speech, peace departs from them. The evil that men do lives with them, after them and before them to judgment.
Joseph’s brothers sold him
Many people are like Joseph’s brothers who purposed to carry out an evil plot against him because of a lack of consideration and mercy for others (Gen. 37), caused by
- Joseph’s Truthfulness.
- He was favored above others by Jacob, their father
- Separated from others with special garment
- Joseph’s openness to tell his dream
- Joseph’s destiny as revealed in his dream
Many in our society today would stop any opportunity that would make other people’s dream become a reality. However, no evil plan would stop God’s plan concerning anyone. Joseph’s brother’s evil turned out to be the path to Joseph’s realization of his dream – the manifestation of his star; the unavoidable way to his destiny; and the unstoppable plan of God concerning him.
The Bible says
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” (Jn. 10:10).
The quotation above is an example of the evil actions of Joseph’s brothers or people of like manner. Their intention was to kill Joseph, kill his dream, kill his destiny, and shut up his star. If this could happen among blood relations, it thus infers that more could happen in this present complex society of the world in this end time.
Guilty conscience hunt’s Joseph’s brothers
- Before Joseph reveals his identity, his brothers blamed themselves for not being merciful to Joseph when he begged them (Gen 42:21).
- When Joseph revealed himself, his brothers were speechless because of their guilt (Gen 45:3).
- After Joseph had forgiven them, they were not at ease after the death of their father (Gen. 50:15-17).
- Joseph’s brothers had a new fear; they thought Joseph’s kindness to them was to please their father, and that he would now take revenge? A guilty conscience generates unnecessary speculations.
Consequences of a guilty conscience
There is nothing good derived from wickedness except a guilty conscience. We have all felt guilty of one act or the other at times. Guilty conscience causes, disharmony, lack of joy, lack of peace, fear, anxiety, condemnation, nightmares, low self-esteem, servitude, among others.
Freedom from guilty conscience
Our repentance from the evils that brought us into the guilt is the only action that can get us out of it. That guarantees us a new refreshing moment in the presence of the Lord.
The Bible states,
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Ps. 34:14).
This, we must do
Moreover, the Bible enjoins us to transform from our old behavior and embrace a new life in Christ
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2).
As Christians, you must not plan evil against anyone, but embrace what is good; encouraging others to prosper in their goals and desires according to the will of God. You must not allow any evil thought to cause you to hate, envy, feel aggrieved, discriminate, alienate, conspire, feel jealous or plot evil against your fellow brothers and sisters. One of the above bad attitudes would cause you to embark on an evil act that would bring a regrettable guilty conscience in your life. Cleanse your conscience from evil thought that could generate an evil plot: We are our brother’s keeper and helper.
Prayers
- Pray that you will not lay your hand on anything that will bring a negative consequence upon your life now or in future.
- Pray that God will deliver you from every guilty conscience.
- Pray for grace not to embark on anything that will bring shame on you.
- Pray that any evil meted against you, God will turn it for good in your favor
- Pray that God will halt the activities of the evil ones that work against your progress, and turn it around to be the path to the realization of your dream, goal, embarkment and breakthrough
- Pray for grace and mercy that God will reverse the evil judgment you inherited as result of your past evil, and that God will let you find grace in His sight.
- Pray that those who are against you be confounded and speechless when they see God turn your situation around for good
- Pray for grace to repent from all evil acts the devil is using you to commit.
- Pray that you will not partake in any evil plot to work against the progress of others
- Pray that the blood of Jesus will cleanse your heart from every pollution and evil thought that can generate an evil plot against anyone.
- Pray for grace to love others as yourself.
Ask all in Jesus name.
By Lawrence Abitogun Lawrenceabitogun.com or christianedification.org