Genesis 42:1-38 The Lingering Effects of Sin

Sin has a lingering effect. It often causes problems in the lives of others, continues to plague us and creates future difficulties in our own lives.

When Joseph's brothers came to Egypt, it had been several years since they had acted sinfully against him. That sinful act not only harmed Joseph, but it harmed their father who had been put in fear, "Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, 'I am afraid that harm may befall him'" (42:4). Later Jacob said, ""You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more" (42:36) and "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow" (42:38).

The sin not only affected Jacob, their father, but also the brothers themselves. Although they had not killed Joseph, they acted as if they had killed him rather than selling him, "Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive" (42:13). That burden had lingered with them. Although selling their brother was a merciless act, killing him would have been even worse. Their sin had apparently magnified the horror in their own minds.

Later, they said, "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" (42:21).

After all these years, the brothers were still arguing over it, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood" (42:22).

Finally, their earlier sin caused future problems, because Simeon was bound and taken to prison in a foreign land (42:24).

Sin often has horrible consequences. However, the good news is that the Lord has provided a way for us to escape the problem of sin. As the Scripture unfolds, we learn of the Messiah who died in our place, the just for the unjust. The iniquities of us all were laid on Him. It is in Him that we can have our sins forgiven by grace through faith.