Can you trust your conscience? (Part I of II)
By Chris Voss
For some unknown reason to me at first, this particular Bible verse that I had read replayed in my mind over and over and over. The brothers of Joseph are in Egypt to buy food because of the famine and standing before them is their brother Joseph, who they do not recognize. Joseph, who is in charge of the distribution of the grain, conceals his identity from his brothers; and to test their character, he places severe demands upon them if they are to receive any food. Their reaction? Genesis 42:21, Then the brothers said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.”
I finally realized what caught my attention was the fact that this verse was 22 years after the brothers had sold Joseph into slavery. Twenty-two years later, the brothers are still dealing with their guilty conscience over what they did to Joseph. Twenty-two years had not removed the horrible guilt of those brothers. They had little doubt that death had indeed claimed Joseph.
We also learn from this verse that the brothers must have heard the cries of distress by their brother, but refused Joseph’s pleadings for help. No wonder their conscience tortured them when at last it appeared that the day of reckoning for their crime had come.
But for 22 years, the brothers never told the truth to their father Jacob. For 22 years, their collective conscience failed each one of the brothers to do what was right and proper. Can you trust your conscience?
One of the main characters in the comic strip, “Moon Mullins,” was a guy named Willie. In one strip, Willie is slumped in front of the television set with a coffee cup resting on his pot belly as he flicks his cigar ashes into his cup. He says to his wife, “You’re awfully quiet this morning, Mamie.” Mamie replied, “Willie, I’ve decided to let your conscience be your guide on your day off.”
Next scene: Willis is surrounded by a lawnmower and an edger and a hoe and a shovel and he’s frantically washing the windows and muttering, “Every time I listen to my ‘ole conscience, I end up ruinin’ my relaxin.”
Can you trust your conscience?
I Timothy 4:1-2, Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…
Next time: A conscience you can trust, considered, in the conclusion to “Can you trust your conscience?”
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Chris Voss is a pastor at First Christian Church, 317 S. Main, Donna.