Can we feel guilty even if we’ve done nothing wrong? And if we do, is there any way to resolve the feelings of shame?
Sometimes we cannot. Only God can resolve the unresolvable.
For example, we forget to latch the gate, the dog escapes, and it is hit by a car. Can we undo that incident? No. Can we bring the dog back to life? No. We have no way to resolve our guilt.
Guilt, as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers, falls into three categories.
First, we have guilt caused by committing an offense against another person:
Genesis 42:21 tells us, “We have committed a great crime against our brother. He pleaded with us not to sell him into slavery, and we ignored his entreaties.”
Joseph’s brothers hated him for the favoritism he was shown by his father. They thought to make their lives better by doing away with him. Then they boldly lied to their father about their deed.
However, their guilt remained at the forefront of their thoughts. They had only made the problem worse.
Second, we see an example of guilt caused by not committing an offense against another person:
While in prison, Joseph interpreted a favorable dream for the chief butler. He asked him to remember him to Pharaoh when he was restored to his position in the palace.
Yet, in Genesis 40:23, we read that the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
It was another two years before the chief butler hit his hand against his head and said, “Ah! I remember my faults!”
He had sinned against Joseph by not doing what he had promised to do.
Third, we have the type of guilt brought about by family or societal expectations:
In Genesis 42, Simeon had been imprisoned, and Joseph’s brothers had returned to their father. Jacob was distraught when Simeon did not return with them.
When their food ran out once again, Jacob did not want to let Benjamin return with his brothers to Egypt. He could not bear the thought that Joseph had been lost to him, then Simeon, and now he was expected to turn loose of Benjamin.
Reuben swore to his father, “If I do not bring my brothers back to you, then let the blame be upon me.”
How did Joseph respond to each of these?
Forgiveness Response #1: When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he reassured them that what they had done was not their fault. Their actions had been the hand of God sending him to Egypt to preserve their lives.
Forgiveness Response #2: As Joseph rose to the pinnacle of Egyptian power, there is no record that he blamed the butler for his omission. Joseph moved forward into his new life, leaving the past behind him.
Forgiveness Response #3: Joseph worked his plan to ensure that all his family joined him in Egypt, where he offered them the very best the land had to offer.
The fifth confirmation of true forgiveness is that we see the offense as God’s hand pointing us a new direction in life.
When our forgiveness is total, there is no place left for guilt to gain a toehold.
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Code: C.10.13f.vp