Honest, But Honestly Mistaken

Out of twelve sons, Joseph was Jacob’s favorite. As a display of his affection, Jacob made a coat of many colors for Joseph. "But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him" (Genesis 37:4). When Joseph told his family of some dreams that indicated that his family members would one day bow down to him, his brothers hated him even more (Genesis 37:5-11). Their hatred for Joseph grew to the point where they wanted to kill him. Instead of killing him, they decided to sell him as a slave to a band of Ishmaelites who were on their way to Egypt (Genesis 37:12-28).

Now Joseph’s brothers faced a dilemma: what were they going to tell Jacob? They devised and implemented a plan: "So they took Joseph's tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, ‘We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?’" (Genesis 37:31-32).

Jacob believed their scheme. Observing the coat of many colors saturated with blood, he cried, “It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces" (Genesis 37:33).

Jacob was honest in his assessment of the situation; he thought Joseph had been killed. He was honest, but he was honestly mistaken.

Saul was also honest in his convictions that he should persecute Christians. He said, “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts 26:9). But, when he was confronted by Christ, he understood clearly that he had not been doing God’s will.

Saul was honest, but honestly mistaken.

From the examples of Jacob and Saul, we learn that it is possible for you and for me to be honest in our convictions, but honestly mistaken. We can be confident that something is the truth, but we can be wrong.

How can we know then, if our convictions are true?

In His prayer to the heavenly Father, Jesus stated, "Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Thus, we can know our convictions are true when we derive our convictions from the word of truth, God’s word. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Let’s be honest - the Lord requires it!

Let’s also base our convictions on the word of God lest we be....."Honestly Mistaken"



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