Uncharted: Ruach, Spirit of GodSýnishorn

“My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.” Their hearts sank and they turned to each other, trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” - Genesis 42:28 (NIV)

Genesis 42 captures a complex moment in the story of Joseph. When he encounters his brothers, the same brothers who had sold him into slavery years earlier, He accuses them of being spies, imprisons them, and then surprisingly shows generosity as they depart.

The brothers’ immediate reaction to this situation is, "What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:28)

Their response reveals the feeling of guilt they’ve carried since selling Joseph years earlier. their minds immediately return to their past sin. They interpret their suffering as punishment, a sign that their wrongdoing has finally caught up with them.

This is something many of us can relate to. When we sin, our first instinct is often to hide it in the darkness just as Joseph’s brothers did. When we do this, our sin can take over all aspects of our lives. But the truth is, God knows us better than we know ourselves. God knows where we may fall short, and all he wants from us is to bring it into the light where he can heal and restore us.

Prayer:

God help us to not hide our sin from you, where it can fester. Help us to bring our sins into the light where You can heal and restore us. Amen.