Genesis 37:31-35 (NIV) “Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, ‘We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.’ He recognized it and said, ‘It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.’ Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days… But he refused to be comforted.” 

Jealousy can make people do terrible things. Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was their father’s favorite and because God had given him dreams that one day he would rule. Their resentment grew until they sold Joseph to a caravan of traders heading to Egypt. To hide their sin, they devised a cruel deception. They slaughtered a goat, dipped Joseph’s beautiful robe into its blood, and carried it home to Jacob.

They never actually said Joseph was dead. They simply laid the bloody garment before their father and allowed him to reach that heartbreaking conclusion himself. Jacob looked at the robe, saw the blood, and believed the worst. His beloved son must have been killed by a wild animal. It was all a lie.

Joseph wasn’t dead. He was very much alive. Yet Jacob carried the unbearable weight of that deception for years. His grief was real, but it was built upon something that wasn’t true. Every passing season was overshadowed by a lie that his own sons had created. They watched their father mourn while knowing the truth that could have set him free.

Satan has been doing something very similar ever since the beginning. Jesus called him “the father of lies” (John 8:44 NIV). He has spent thousands of years holding up his own “bloodstained garment” before humanity. He points to suffering and whispers, “God doesn’t love you.” He points to guilt and says, “You’ll never be worthy.” He points to your failures and insists, “God could never forgive someone like you.” He fills people’s hearts with fear of death, fear of judgment, fear of rejection, and hopelessness about ever being accepted by a holy God.

Those lies have been perpetuated across the earth for centuries. But they are still lies.

Years after Joseph disappeared, the truth was finally revealed. Joseph wasn’t dead. God had raised him up to become second only to Pharaoh, placing him in the perfect position to preserve the lives of the very family that had betrayed him. The lie that had imprisoned Jacob’s heart for years was shattered by the truth: Joseph was alive.

That story points us to an even greater truth. The world is filled with countless opinions about God, but there is only one true God. Many voices claim to know Him, yet God has revealed Himself through one Savior—Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that God loves you more than you can imagine. He sent His only Son into the world to live the sinless life we could never live. Jesus willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Three days later, He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death forever. Today He offers forgiveness, new life, peace with God, and the gift of eternal life to everyone who places their trust in Him.

The greatest lie is that you must earn God’s acceptance. The greatest truth is that Jesus has already done everything necessary to bring you into a right relationship with God. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.” — 1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NIV)

If you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, or if you’ve wandered far from Him and want to come home, you can turn to Him right now. God isn’t looking for perfect words. He’s looking for a sincere heart that is willing to trust His Son.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You today admitting that I have sinned and that I cannot save myself. Thank You for loving me enough to send Jesus Christ to die for my sins and to rise again so that I could have eternal life. Today I place my trust in Him alone. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and choose to follow Him from this day forward. Please forgive my sins, make me a new creation, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for receiving me as Your child and giving me the gift of eternal life. Help me to know You, love You, and follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If You Prayed That Prayer with a Sincere Heart…

If you sincerely placed your faith in Jesus Christ today, something wonderful has happened. God heard your prayer—not because of perfect words, but because He sees your heart.

The Bible says that when you trust in Christ, your sins are forgiven. You become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are born again into God’s family (John 3:3-7). You become a child of God (John 1:12), and His Holy Spirit comes to live within you (Ephesians 1:13-14). Your relationship with God has begun—not because you earned it, but because Jesus paid for it through His death and resurrection. As you continue to trust Him and walk with Him, He will faithfully shape your life into the person He created you to be.

Today isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting line.

Begin reading the Gospel of John to get to know the One who has just become your Savior and Lord. Talk to Him every day in prayer as you would a trusted friend who loves you.

I also encourage you to find a Bible-teaching church where Jesus Christ is honored and God’s Word is faithfully taught. There are wonderful churches in communities all around the world, and God will use one to help you grow in your faith while building meaningful relationships with other believers.

Finally, I invite you to continue reading Fresh Manna. My prayer is that these daily devotionals will help you understand God’s Word, strengthen your faith, and guide you day by day as you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus made this wonderful promise:

“Whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.” — John 6:37 (NIV)

If you have sincerely come to Him today, you can rest in that promise. Your sins have been forgiven. You belong to Him. You are His beloved child, and nothing will ever separate you from His love.

Welcome to the family of God.