Sin that festers
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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They hated him and could not speak peacefully to him (Genesis 37:4b).
Read Genesis 37:3–22
Sin festers. In today’s reading, we see how being less favoured than someone else by a person in authority led to jealousy and revenge. To put this another way: Joseph’s brothers were not blessed in the same way as Joseph. Intertwined in this story is another story of intergenerational deception, blessing and birthright. Jacob had taken Esau’s birthright by deceiving Isaac, and now Jacob favoured Joseph over his older brothers. Whether it is our biological family or church family, families are messy. People are blessed with different skills, talents and attributes. We get along with some people better than others. People take offence. Sometimes, we look at what others appear to be receiving and dislike or even hate them.
As I ponder today’s reading, I am struck by the way sin festers and the consequences of allowing it to happen. When sin was allowed to fester, Joseph’s brothers conspired against him, planning to kill him but ultimately selling him into slavery. I am also reminded of another Scripture that tells us how our desires lure us. James 1:14,15 says:
But each person is tempted when they are lured and enticed by their own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Sin and evil take root, bitterness and hatred grow, and death ensues. But it starts with desire. A desire for something to be different than it is, to be acknowledged, understood and appreciated differently than we are.
Is there a different path to travel? Well, Scripture has an answer for that, too. In 2 Peter 1:5–7, we read:
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.
Today, ponder whether you are being lured and enticed by your own desire. Is there someone (or a group of people) you believe are more blessed than you? How are you reacting to that? Are you in a situation in which intergenerational biological or church-family matters discolour or stain your worldview? Is sin festering in your life? If it is, take heart. God has a plan, and his plan is good. He has given you the gift of faith. Make every effort to supplement that gift.
Father God, thank you for your gift of faith. Today and every day, help me to make every effort to supplement your gift to me with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, mutual affection and, ultimately, love. Amen.
Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to retirement, Carolyn worked as a researcher in the disability and rehabilitation fields. Today, Carolyn keeps busy with hobbies, supporting the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various leadership roles and supporting her family.
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