Our Natural Reaction To God

When Jacob dies, the brothers of Joseph go right back to their scheming. They've been showered with grace and love by Joseph. He wept on their necks and provided them with the best place to live in Egypt. He took care of all their needs.

YET... in spite of all he did for them... they still thought he'd be out to get them.

Look what happens immediately after Jacob's passing:
Genesis 50:15–17 (ESV) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

Notice Joseph's response to their statements. He's back to weeping! It has to be the Author's way of drawing us back to the moment in which he revealed himself to them years before. He SHOWED his emotion FOR them so loudly people could hear it outside the room... remember:

Genesis 45:1–2 (ESV) Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

What would make these brothers think that the same man who wept so loudly at their reunion would now plot a revenge upon their father's passing? There is only one explanation. Humans really have a terrible time getting over their sins. 

I have found most often that the people who drift from church do so because they are convinced God is upset with them and ready to strike for what they've done. And it always snowballs! Because we do one thing, then feel He's mad, then we do another thing and we assume He must be madder. On and on it goes. Our human hearts have been running from the God who seeks and saves that which was lost since Adam and Eve jumped behind the bushes. It's our natural response to God.

The frightening reality of sin is what it does to our minds toward God. It messes with us and deceives us further. It makes us fear His wrath rather than seek His grace. How many children of God have wondered, "Have I committed the unforgivable sin?" If you're wondering, you probably haven't.

John offers a word of encouragement to the discouraged among us. 

1 John 3:19–20 (ESV) By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Couple of things John offers:
1. God already knows everything. He knew what you did. He knows what you are doing. He knows what you will do even though you're not yet planning it.
2. God is always greater than your feelings. That means not only does He know what you're going to do, He's greater than the guilt you feel after you find out what you were going to do.

We cannot hide from God therefore we do not have to.

Instead, let us run to Him a mess and ask Him for cleansing. That's what He does.