Genesis 42:21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
The brothers had been living with guilt for a long time now, perhaps 15 years, but now, because of what Joseph was asking them to do, they were convicted of their sin and guilt. They confessed, at least to one another. They didn’t bring Benjamin on their first trip to Egypt for grain because Jacob kept him home. He loved the other son of Rachel and wanted to protect him. Joseph tested them, and God convicted them, by demanding that they go home and bring Benjamin back to Egypt.
Now they were in trouble: their father forbade them to take Benjamin, but after two years the food ran out, and so they all had no choice. The distress caused them see their their guilt after all these years. Joseph could understand their language, and he was moved to tears when he heard their confession. This shows the power of confession and absolution. Joseph would forgive them, but they still had to make good on their word and prove they were really changed.
Of course, their confession should have taken place years ago, but they carried the burden of guilt all these years. Distress has a way of bringing out the guilt, so we can see our sin and repent. The Word and the Spirit has a way of bringing us to repentance and faith in the Gospel through life’s troubles. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait so long, for we live in daily repentance in private and weekly confession in church. We remember Baptism daily and take Communion weekly. Faithful church attendance keeps life from getting out of hand. Let God convict of sin and lift guilt often. The refrain of life is this: ”I am guilty. Be merciful to me.”