TOPIC: CONSCIENCE IS AN OPEN WOUND

1 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.

2 And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.

3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”

6 Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down.

7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

8 Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “ These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

An African proverb translates, “The pounded yam of 20 years can still be as hot in one’s hand as it was 20 years ago.” Guilty conscience is an internal voice that tells what one has done wrong intentionally or accidentally, and this may help him/her to fix his/her mistakes. It is what helps you decide whether your actions or impulses are good or bad. Little do men know when they rob others, that they have actually robbed themselves of their peace of mind, relationship, joy, or any good.

Jacob was happy taking his brother’s birthright and blessings without knowing he would have to crawl before that same brother one day. After 20 years of separation, he was still afraid his brother would revenge, so he packaged his concubines and their children in front, so that if Esau hit them, no problem! Only let him not touch his darling Rachael and her children. Can we ask Jacob who cunningly took what belonged to his brother why he became the servant?

Oh! Sin will only succeed in bringing you down, because it is a reproach to anybody (Prov. 14:34). Sin will make you fear and be enslaved until you are bold to make peace with God and humans involved. Jacob tried not to appear before his brother, because his conscience had not been cleared–guilty conscience (vv. 13,14). Though circumcised in the body, his heart was filthy.

Avoid sin like plague, or else you may not easily forgive yourself later, even when God does. Some of the symptoms of guilt include regret, self-doubt, self-esteem, shame, self-help, etc. Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it.

To have a free conscience, let God’s will take its course naturally. Speak and act the truth in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2), for there lies the oil to heal your wounded conscience.

1. Lord, deliver me from venturing into actions, reactions and inactions that can be regretted now or later in life.

2. Lord Jesus, wash my conscience clean, by Your precious blood, of things that can hinder smooth relationship with You and others.

3. O God, instil in the lives of leaders at various levels/capacities the right conscience to debar them from doing wrong things with impunity.