We are honest men

We are honest men

"We're all the sons of the same man; we're honest men; we'd never think of spying." (Gen.42.11) 

I wanted to title today's devotion as "Judged by your past, validated by your present". They considered themselves honest men in the present but Joseph had to test the validity of that declaration. He judged them dishonest, in fact as spies. So he was going to give them an opportunity to validate their claim. 

What we used to be and do in the past should not be what we are judged by but we are judged by what we do today. Ezekiel the prophet said it this way: "The soul that sins is the soul that dies. The child does not share the guilt of the parent, nor the parent the guilt of the child. If you live upright and well, you get the credit; if you live a wicked life, you're guilty as charged. The same thing goes for a good person who turns his back on an upright life and starts sinning, plunging into the same vile obscenities that the wicked person practices. Will this person live? I don't keep a list of all the things this person did right, like money in the bank he can draw on. Because of his defection, because he accumulates sin, he'll die." (Ezek.18.20, 24) 

So Joseph orders that one of the brothers be remanded pending when they prove their honesty. It is interesting that people judge you based on what you have done, who they knew you to be. The onus is however on you to prove them wrong, not by trying to convince them but by living a life that stays true to who you said you are. Joseph said, 'I will keep one of you until you prove to me that indeed you are honest men.'

The Bible says Joseph cried when he heard his brother blaming themselves and regretting what they had done to him.

"Joseph turned away from them and cried. When he was able to speak again, he took Simeon and had him tied up, making a prisoner of him while they all watched." (Gen.42.24) 

But regret was not enough, they had to prove they have learnt to do right. It is one thing to regret wrong but another thing to do right. Prove your honesty... 

Good day,
Have a great day today,
Emmanuel Okoro,
(aka Mr. Lift) 

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