# 404 The Silent Scream

The Book of Genesis

Day 404

Ge 42:16 "Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!" 17 So he put them all together in prison three days. 18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God: 19 "If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 "And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us." 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us." 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.

Plan A for Joseph is to keep all the brothers in prison except one. That one, would go back and fetch Benjamin. But first, he puts them all in jail for three days. After 3 days he comes up with plan B. In this new plan, just one brother would stay behind and the rest would bring Benjamin back with them on a return trip.

At this point the brothers start talking about their guilt concerning Joseph, not knowing that Joseph understood every single word, and for the first time, we get a horrific glimpse of what really took place on that day Joseph was sold into slavery. He did not go off to Egypt quietly. In “anguish of soul” he pleaded with his brothers, “Don’t do it!” But the brothers would not hear the pleas of their own flesh and blood  and now 20 years later we see that his anguished pleas are still ringing in their ears.

Have you ever seen the movie “The Silent Scream?” It was released in 1984 and depicted an actual abortion. Through ultrasound, it gave us a window to the womb and it was very graphic. The unborn child could be seen recoiling from the tools used in the procedure and in the end, opening it’s mouth in what appeared to be a silent scream.

Oh that the citizens and governing authorities in New York, Virginia, and other “pro choice” states would open their eyes to this truth. The pink celebratory lights of the world trade center would be darkened in mourning.

This whole scene with Joseph’s brothers seems strikingly similar to the plight of those who have aborted their babies. They too are often reminded of the “anguished pleas” of their unborn child  through the lips of those who “seek to deliver those drawn unto the slaughter,” ( Prov 24:11) These heroic pro-life picketers plea on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, “Don’t do it!” The signs and pictures they hoist, crying on behalf of the unborn, “Let me live.”

Perhaps God is speaking to you today about a past abortion. You know all too well the anguished plea of your unborn child. You have heard it in your soul and have been reminded of it often. Oh, dear child, I am here to tell you that God desires to set you free from your guilt, just as sure as he desired to set Joseph’s brothers free from their 20 year prison of guilt. He weeps for you just as Joseph wept for his brothers as they refused to understand that they can be forgiven.

THERE IS NO SIN THAT GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE EXCEPT UNBELIEF! JESUS PAID IT ALL!

Come to Him today! Lay that sin of abortion at the foot of the cross and by faith in Jesus, walk away fully cleansed and freely forgiven. Then allow God to continue the healing process.  And if you still struggle with forgiveness contact a local crisis pregnancy center. They can direct you to support groups to help you in the healing process. They will let you know that you are not alone.

The struggle is real and powerful, but God’s grace is even more real and more powerful! There is no need for you to spend one more minute in this prison of guilt. Receive the grace of God and be set free!