Scripture: Genesis 37:31-33
His brothers took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the long robe, brought it to their father, and said, “We found this. See if it’s your son’s robe or not.” He recognized it and said, “It’s my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph must have been torn to pieces!”
Thought for the Day: In reading the Joseph story, I always focused on the brothers’ betrayal of Joseph that grew from their jealousy. But here, in their fabricated story, the brothers betray their father as well. He is unaware of their betrayal. In fact, he won’t learn of it for years. Here’s my question: How does that impact the brothers? They may have kept their secret and never mentioned it out loud to anyone or even among the group, but don’t you imagine it kept them up at night? You can picture Joseph’s birthday rolling around, and Jacob (Joseph’s father) breaking down. The brothers attempt to comfort their father, yet the guilt only intensifies. They probably couldn’t even make eye contact with one another as they feared the shame in their expression would give them away. Betrayal can impact the betrayer more intensely than the betrayed when the betrayed is unaware of the betrayal. Guilt and shame are powerful, and if one is going to experience liberation, confession and forgiveness must be sought.
Prayer: Wherever my actions have betrayed another human being, I seek your encouragement, O Mighty God. Even when it appears as if no one will ever know who instigated the betrayal, I will know. Provide me your Spirit that I might muster the courage to be honest and to ask forgiveness. Amen.
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