"What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied, "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves - we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." Genesis 44:16
Guilty! There is no other verdict. No man except Jesus Himself has lived his life without the shadow of guilt upon him.
Judah fell before Joseph a broken man full of guilt and shame. Although he didn't realize it, he was standing before the one in Egypt who knew the truth. It was Judah who said, "Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites." Judah saved Joseph's life by taking away all that he had. When Judah was faced with the possibility of telling his father Jacob, "Benjamin is no more," he broke. How could he go on? Judah pleaded for Benjamin, but I think in some ways he was pleading for Joseph. Judah was making amends for his brother as he should have done years before.
Lord, I stand before You a guilty man. Eventually, all my guilt will be uncovered. It if were revealed today, I don't feel I could go on. So many lives could be hurt if the truth were seen about the things I have done.
Yet, You know the truth about me as Joseph knew the truth about Judah. Joseph looked upon his brother with compassion. I know that Your heart is full of compassion as well. You came to this earth. You died to remove the guilt.
Help me to hold fast to this truth. You have forgiven, and I no longer need to be ashamed. My guilt and shame have kept me in a place of darkness for far too long. Your light is refreshment to my soul. Continue to shine on me.