In this daily Bible reading is the account of Jacob’s sons going to Egypt to get grain because the famine was great throughout the land of Canaan. Jacob sent all his sons except for Joseph’s younger brother Benjamin.
When they arrived in Egypt Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize Joseph. Joseph spoke harshly to them, accusing them of being spies. Joseph asked about their family. They told Joseph that they were all sons of one man and had a younger brother who was with their father. Joseph sold them grain but said that they must prove that they were not spies. Joseph required that they return to their home and bring their young brother back with them. He then put their brother, Simeon, in prison to ensure they would return.
Joseph’s brothers were in great anguish and said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore, this distress has come upon us.” Before they sold Joseph to the Midianite traders, they put him in a pit, and Joseph had pleaded with his brothers. They did not show Joseph any mercy when they sold him to be a slave. Now their sin was returning to them.
I believe that the sins we commit will return to us in kind. If we lie we will be lied to, and if we cheat others we will be cheated. If we gossip about others, others will gossip about us. This is worth thinking about when we consider committing a sin.
