Verse of the day: Genesis
45:5; & 8 “But now, do not
therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God
sent me before you to preserve life.” 8 “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to
Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of
Egypt.”
What
a perspective! If only we, who call ourselves God’s children, would see all of
life’s events, whether good or bad, as situations and circumstances that were
brought about, and allowed, by God, who is a good God. What a difference that
would make in how we respond to those situations and the people involved. How
could we hold on to bitterness and anger, or seek vengeance, when we acknowledge
that our suffering is allowed by God in order to accomplish something bigger
than we are? Joseph did not hold one ounce of contention toward his brothers,
as he acknowledged, and communicated to them, that it was God who sent him to
Egypt to preserve their lives, and the lives of their families. Here we see the
results of a man who trusted God, and held on to his integrity throughout all
his years of suffering. Because Joseph was someone who kept his eyes on God,
regardless of how much he had to endure, he was readily able to forgive his
brothers, and realize that all the had befallen him was part of God’s plan in
order to accomplish God’s greater purpose for His people. There is not one of
us, regardless of who we are, or what we must endure in this lifetime, that
suffers trials and tribulations in vain. Even those trials that we bring on
ourselves, by our own decisions, God will use to mold us, shape us, and use it for
our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29). Humanly speaking, Joseph’s brothers
did not deserve forgiveness. Joseph, now being governor of Egypt, had within
his power the ability to take vengeance on each of them. However, in
recognizing that it was God who was working to bring him to Egypt, he chose
instead to forgive and give God the glory for what he was now able to do, in
the midst of a great famine, to save his family. The type of forgiveness that
was demonstrated here is a wonderful picture of the forgiveness that we have received
from our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. We do not deserve an ounce of
forgiveness, nor do we deserve salvation, but God has forgiven us our
trespasses for Christ’s sake (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Again, Joseph
approached this moment with much wisdom, already having a heart to forgive his
brother long before this encounter; but testing them to see if they were truly
repentant, and changed, men. Once this was confirmed, he readily revealed
himself to them and comforted them in proclaiming that what they had done was
used as part of God’s plan to bring Joseph to this moment in time. Note
something very important in what Joseph said to his brothers, “do not therefore
be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here”. When we do
wrong, and come to a place of true repentance, there is also an opportunity for
the devils to use the guilt associated with what we did to oppress us, and keep
us paralyzed in our service to God. Joseph was reassuring his brothers that he
held absolutely no ill feelings toward them, and just as he forgave them, they
would need to forgive themselves. So often, we repent and confess our sins, but
then hold on to the guilt long after the Lord has forgiven us. We see this
later in chapter 50, after Israel’s death, that Joseph’s brothers were still
holding on to the guilt of what they did to Joseph, and feared that he would
take vengeance on them after their father’s death. Joseph’s reply to them in
chapter 50, verses 19-21, was again a reminder of what he had communicated to
them here, Joseph
said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I
in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to
bring it about as it is this
day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will
provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly
to them.
Not only did he reassure them, but he did it with kindness. There was no
bitterness or contention in his voice or attitude toward them at all. This is
the kind of forgiveness that we receive from God, because of Christ; and is the
kind of forgiveness that we are commanded to show others when we are offended
or wronged. The bottom line is that regardless of what the offense or the
circumstance, it is all about what God chooses to allow or not allow. If He has
allowed it, then He has a plan in how He intends to use it in our lives, and
the lives of others in our service to Him; all for His glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment