In Genesis 45, you will remember that it was a time of famine in the middle-east. People were starving and only one nation had reserves enough to spare – Egypt. So it was to this nation that the Patriarch Jacob, sent his sons to buy food for their struggling family. Little did the sons of Jacob know that the Lord had scheduled a family reunion. For it was in this pagan nation that God had elevated Joseph, the brother they had betrayed and sold into slavery, from the prison cell to ruler of the land. Many years had gone by since Joseph was sold into slavery. He had excelled and suffered in amazing and terrible ways. Yet through it all he was always walking before God in his integrity.

Imagine his surprise when in walked his brothers searching to buy food from the great leader who had foreknown of the famine and prepared for it. They did not recognized him but he knew them! In the early verses of Chapter 45 he reveals himself to them and demonstrates more grace than we could conceive. But then he tells them to go to his father and let him know how God has blessed him. Now it was bad enough of a shock to these brothers to find themselves at the mercy of the one whom they had wickedly mistreated. This experience alone would have been most distressing (not to mention cause for cardiact arrest!). However, Joseph demonstrated such grace and mercy to them it helped to calm their terror.

BUT! Then they were sent to the one person they really did not want to explain this new turn of events. Do you remember the scene shortly after they sold their brother? The coat of many colors Joseph was given from his father was torn and colored with animals blood. It was with this awful object they displayed before the eyes of their father and painted a tragic tale of a gruesome death. Jacob morned his beloved son. The loss he felt was very real to him. Now it was their sad duty as repentant offenders to lay before their father what they were guilty of and plead for his forgiveness.

And so it can be for us if we do not show care in our lives. We may find ourselves making a similar journey to lay openly our offense before our Heavenly Father or a wronged loved one. Instead, live with integrity and always treat others in light of the truth that our actions, after years gone by can haunt us when we least expect it!