The Terrible Consequences of Believing a Lie
Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was their father’s favorite son born of his favorite wife. Additionally, they despised him because of the dreams that he had that showed his superiority over them. For these reasons (and likely many more that we are not privy to), Joseph’s brothers decided to kill him. Fortunately, Reuben did not go along with the plan and “delivered him out of their hands” (Genesis 37:21). This did not prevent Joseph from being sold into slavery, but what would they tell their father? “Joseph was killed by wild beasts. Here are his bloody clothes.” They lied.
And Jacob believed the lie. He mourned for Joseph as if he were dead. Consider all of the years that he suffered in grief because he wrongly believed Joseph was dead. He also did not even consider going to search for Joseph. This had a profound impact on Joseph’s life who thought that his father had abandoned him. This can be seen in the name that he gave to his firstborn son, Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house” (Genesis 41:51).
The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” For those who do not love the truth, but willingly believe lies, whose fault will it be when they are condemned? It will be theirs and theirs alone. Why? Because they were unwilling to examine matters and come to the correct conclusions. Truth matters! Believing lies is consequential! May we each resolve to believe and love the truth and not be deceived.
God bless you and I love you.
Kevin Cauley