In working through Genesis 43 this past Sunday in the sermon, I noted that that the Lord used Joseph in his brother’s lives to bring them to a place where God “cut loose” on them and their secrets and their issues until he awakened their guilty consciences. The Lord cares for us so much that he will fully allow the grace of guilt to come into our lives to turn us back to him. This text presses on us to ask ourselves about our own hearts.  Do the sins of your past continue to characterize your present?  Have you hurt someone in the past that needs reconciliation? Will you come to God in humble repentance let him cut it loose before it cuts you down? 

A great illustration of this comes from one of Andrew Peterson’s children’s books, The Wingfeather Saga. (By the way, it is a great series for grown-ups too!) One of Peterson’s characters is an old man by the name of Podo Helmer, a reformed pirate and loving grandfather in the story. Without trying to give too much of the story away, he spent most of his life trying to hide the guilt of his past sins.  However, one day all of his secrets were exposed in front of the very people he was seeking to hide them from. Can you imagine how frightening that would be? All of the things you’re most ashamed of laid out in the open for everyone you love and respect to see? After the intensity of the scene, Peterson writes this concerning Podo: “He moved through the days in peace and wonder, for his whole story had been told for the first time, and he found that he was still loved” (North or Be Eaten! p.321).  How astonishing is that?

What we don’t often understand is that our whole story has always been told before the eyes of the Lord, for he sees all. And more than this, we are still loved. Instead of hiding and holding onto the guilt and sorrow of our sin, whether it be past or present, we too can move about in peace and wonder by trusting in the reality of the gospel, that we are both fully known and fully loved!

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

~ Psalm 32:1-2