The Effects of True Repentance

Today I read Genesis 44 where Joseph puts his cup in Benjamin's sack and has all his brothers brought back to his house to confront them. I've always been curious why he did that. I don't know if it was a test to see if his brethren had changed or if he was trying to save Benjamin from his brothers because he feared for him. I really have never understood this, but this episode does show us that his brothers have indeed changed.

Judah in particular states his case before Joseph that he cannot go back to his father without Benjamin. He lays it all out before Joseph and offers himself into servitude in place of Benjamin so that Benjamin can return home to his father. One thing is for certain from this chapter, Judah, and the rest of his brothers, love their father very much. When they were younger they let their anger at Joseph get the best of them and it outweighed their love of their father and so they caused pain and anguish to both Joseph and their father by selling Joseph into slavery and telling Jacob he was dead.

In this moment, we get a true glimpse into Judah's heart and it is a good heart. I personally feel it is easy to see from this episode just how deeply he regrets his earlier actions and that he has had much sore repentance. I would assume they all have at this point, but we are only treated to Judah speaking and telling his side of things. Because it is so hard, repentance sometimes gets a bad rap. But the truth of the matter is, that without repentance we would all be damned. Repentance is a gift from God. It is a gift so that we can make a change in our lives, even our very nature, to become a different person altogether. Such a change has come over Judah. If this were 20 years earlier when he suggested selling Joseph into slavery, he would not care that Benjamin would become a servant/slave of this man. But because he has changed and repented, he cannot bear the thought of it and offers himself instead. That is a change only the Atonement of Jesus Christ can bring about, and with a few exceptions, it is a change that can only be caused by sincere repentance. It has to be sought out.

We are all capable of such change in our lives. We have to make the change however and do what is required of us for true repentance, which can be just as hard as starting the process. Harder even in some cases. But the great news is that Heavenly Father will help us if we ask for it and will guide us along the path. We are not left to walk the wine press alone as our Elder Brother did so many years ago. He is there for us. We just have to call out and reach out with an open heart and mind. He'll answer, always. Until tomorrow.