Today, I read (among other things) this paragraph in Genesis 50:
“Then Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s funeral. 15 But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became afraid. “Now Joseph will pay us back for all the evil we did to him,” they said. 16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Forgive your brothers for the great evil they did to you.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive us.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and bowed low before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? 20 As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. Indeed, I myself will take care of you and your families.” And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.”
I have to admit that I’m struck with Joseph’s generous forgiveness. In this land of un-forgiveness, it is refreshing & encouraging to read about a man whose entire life was dramatically & painfully altered by his brothers - of all people - and to see his reaction to them when all human restraints are removed from him.
Here’s what I see:
He wept.
He comforted (repeatedly) - “Don’t be afraid of me.” “No, don’t be afraid.”
He remembered his position - “Am I God, to judge & punish you?”
He recalled God’s purpose - “God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me... so I could save the lives of many people.”
He blessed - “I myself will take care of you and your families.”
He comforted again - “He spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.”
The phrase “He spoke kindly” means “He spoke to their hearts.”
I wonder how I speak to those who have hurt me. I wonder if, after they have asked me for forgiveness, if they feel & experience my forgiveness or if they continue to worry about the possibility of me taking revenge? Does my heart break at the very thought that my offender does not sense my forgiveness? Do I repeatedly assure my offender that he/she does not need to fear me or the possibility of my return attack?
Do I recall the sovereignty of God in the entire situation? Realizing that He has complete knowledge of all that took place and continues from then? Do I recognize my place as His SERVANT even when I am treated as such?
And, finally, do I bless my offender? Do I commit to care for him/her?
Wow. Those are strong words. I only hope that I can live them.
“Then Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s funeral. 15 But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became afraid. “Now Joseph will pay us back for all the evil we did to him,” they said. 16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Forgive your brothers for the great evil they did to you.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive us.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and bowed low before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? 20 As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. Indeed, I myself will take care of you and your families.” And he spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.”
I have to admit that I’m struck with Joseph’s generous forgiveness. In this land of un-forgiveness, it is refreshing & encouraging to read about a man whose entire life was dramatically & painfully altered by his brothers - of all people - and to see his reaction to them when all human restraints are removed from him.
Here’s what I see:
He wept.
He comforted (repeatedly) - “Don’t be afraid of me.” “No, don’t be afraid.”
He remembered his position - “Am I God, to judge & punish you?”
He recalled God’s purpose - “God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me... so I could save the lives of many people.”
He blessed - “I myself will take care of you and your families.”
He comforted again - “He spoke very kindly to them, reassuring them.”
The phrase “He spoke kindly” means “He spoke to their hearts.”
I wonder how I speak to those who have hurt me. I wonder if, after they have asked me for forgiveness, if they feel & experience my forgiveness or if they continue to worry about the possibility of me taking revenge? Does my heart break at the very thought that my offender does not sense my forgiveness? Do I repeatedly assure my offender that he/she does not need to fear me or the possibility of my return attack?
Do I recall the sovereignty of God in the entire situation? Realizing that He has complete knowledge of all that took place and continues from then? Do I recognize my place as His SERVANT even when I am treated as such?
And, finally, do I bless my offender? Do I commit to care for him/her?
Wow. Those are strong words. I only hope that I can live them.
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