Are You Blushing?
I was reding the Bible passage where Joseph was reunited with his brothers. Remember they had sold him into slavery years before out of jealousy and anger. They had lived for years with the guilt of this lie. They were ashamed of the fact that they had allowed their anger to control them. They had plotted, to imprison him and later kill him but instead of killing him they sold him into slavery. They then lied and told their father that Joseph had been killed. This lie caused Jacob much pain. When the brothers saw the pain, they had caused their father they were ashamed and grieved. In Gensis 42 we see that the brothers are sent to Egypt to buy food due to the famine in the land. Joseph recognizes them but they don’t recognize him. He began a series of tests to see if his brothers were the same or if they had learned from past sins and changed their behaviors.
When Joseph was satisfied his brothers had in fact regretted their past and changed their behaviors, he revealed himself to them in Genesis 45. The Bible records that Joseph was overcome by emotion. He ordered all the Egyptians to leave the room before he told his brothers who he was. Why would he do this? I have heard two different theories. The first and most common was that he was embarrassed by his emotional state and didn’t want his servants to see him cry. The second I just read in my Torah Club study. It suggested that Joseph had never told anyone in Egypt about his brothers selling him into slavery and didn’t not want to allow anyone there to know about his family’s shameful secret. In the common language he didn’t want to air the family’s dirty laundry in public.
I was reminded of a Mark Twain quote: “Man is the only animal that blushes…or needs to”. I can remember back to times when I did things that once revealed caused me to blush or be ashamed. When I’m ashamed of my own behavior I find it hard to look people in the eye. I can’t bare seeing the revulsion, and disappointment in their eyes because it confirms my own assessment of how bad I am. I have found that when I am ashamed of my actions and deeds, I can’t approach man or God. My shame causes me to withdraw. I find interacting with God or man to be uncomfortable. My shame builds a wall of fear. The stones in that wall are:
· What if they find out
· They will hate me
· They will be disappointed in me
· They will not want to be around me
· I will never be trusted again
· I can never show my face again
We have all been there. We have all done things that have embarrassed us or things we are ashamed of. When we experience these things our biggest need is not isolation but forgiveness. Forgiveness from God first and also from man.
One of the prerequisites of forgiveness is repentance. This is what Joseph was testing for in his brothers. Had his brothers changed their entire mindset. Had their lives changed. Was there a radical turning from sin and to God. He wanted to see if they were sorry only because they feared punishment or if they were deeply remorseful for their past actions. Were they willing to sacrifice another brother to escape with their own lives or would they exchange their own life for the life of their brother.
If you want to read a prayer of contrition read Psalm 51. David doesn’t make excuses. He says Psalm 51: 3 - 4 “For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” David was blushing. The new testament says 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we fully confess our sin to God and man without an attempt to excuse or justify our own bad behavior and are willing to make restitution when possible then we can turn from our sin and return to relationship. If you are blushing it is because you know you need forgiveness.
God is waiting to forgive you just ask!
