47 Days of Justice 2024 - Day 27: Not speaking up can get you caught in a web of deceit.

“Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37:31-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I cannot say this to you enough: Abusive people objectify their victims. How else would it be possible that otherwise “decent” people support the industry of pornography, the abortion industry, prostitution, and so on?

The fact is, people insulate themselves against condemnation of what they are doing by reframing what they are doing. And, objectification is one of the means by which injustice is reframed.

Some people allow their desires to produce tunnel vision wherein their desire is seen as inescapable. And, when a person sees their desire as inescapable, as something they must have or do, they pursue what they want (or want to do) without regard to collateral damage.

As well, people may insulate themselves against condemnation with another type of reframing, wherein there is some “legitimate” justification for what they are doing.

Consider people who engage in looting and stealing. Some will condone their looting and stealing by seeing the victim as something/someone “deserving” of the loss. Some may see such acts as retribution for past evils of some corporation, some particular group of people, etc.

In today’s portion of Joseph’s story we see that his brothers, having dispensed with him, now turn their energy into coming up with a false narrative to cover for their awful deed.

Look at how Joseph’s brothers referenced him to their father: “Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” Wait a minute! Is not HIS son, THEIR brother! Apparently, not anymore. They’ve carried this terrible deed out; and Joseph is considered dead to them. They intend not to think another thought about him.

Another aspect of the situation we must examine today is the fact that this act of deception directly follows Reuben coming and finding Joseph gone. This killing of the animal, and putting the blood on Joseph’s coat, is now the way of answering Reuben’s question as to what he was going to do.

Let’s reflect back on the story with which we began our examination of justice/injustice, that of David and Bathsheba.

On Day 7 and Day 8 we also talked about a web of deceit and cover-ups often being worse than the crime. Remember, David’s sin led to a deception that eventually required murder!

In David’s case, he became caught in his own web of deceit covering his own sin. In Reuben’s case, he got caught up in the web of deception covering what his brothers had done, all because he didn’t speak out against what they were doing.

As another glaring moral here: We must never forget the importance of quickly confessing our sins to the Lord, and repenting, rather than making things worse with deception and denial.

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now Joseph is a slave, and Reuben, having failed to speak out against his brothers’ plan, has been sucked into a terrible web of deceit. Meanwhile, an old man is about to get some horrific news….

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#resolveforhim #47DaysOfJudgement