Joseph’s brothers are now afraid that Joseph will retaliate against them for what they did to him all those years ago. I could see that, after dad dies, Joseph would have no reason to have concern for us. So it appears that they made up this story just in case Joseph still had revenge in his heart. Hey Joseph, it was our fathers command on his deathbed that we tell you he wants you to have mercy on us for all we did to you! Talk about a manipulative ploy to play on Joseph’s emotions during this time of grief. So while they do confess their sin and acknowledge the fact that what they did to him was evil, they still connive to gain mercy. You would think by now they would have known Joseph had put all of this behind him, but they still weren’t sure where they stood. Sometimes as believers, we too struggle with this. Satan still tries to keep us in a place of guilt over past sins, God has already forgiven. Let me encourage you this morning, In Christ you are forgiven.