SCRIPTURE: Genesis 50
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. [Genesis 50:19-21]
Now that dad is gone, it’s the perfect time for revenge… or so Joseph’s brothers think.
But they are surprised to hear something different – not bitterness but blessing.
Joseph has learned through life experience that God’s ways are not our ways.
He sees his life with a God perspective, how his suffering was part of a bigger plan.
He was also able to see that his brothers really had no clue what they were doing; not that they were innocent, but that they needed mercy for their sins.
And he recognizes that judgment is up to God, not to him.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” [Luke 23:33-34]
Jesus reveals the same perspective as Joseph; instead of hurling curses or angry words against his crucifiers, he hurls blessing and forgiveness and mercy.
But He directs His mercy first to God, He says ‘Father forgive them’.
As a servant of God He submits to God’s purpose and leaves the judgement up to Him.
Jesus, like Joseph, knows that God is at work behind the clueless acts of His killers.
Jesus could have said this: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. [Genesis 50:20].
Practically speaking, how does this apply to us?
When people are cruel or unfair, should we hold a grudge, should we seek revenge?
Does it help for us to realize that most people are clueless to their guilt and sin?
Can we find strength in the hope that God is at work behind the scenes for a reason?
Is it beneficial for others and for us to release our ‘enemies’ to God and His justice?
All I can say is ‘easier said than done’; it will take an infusion of Spirit power to be able to love and forgive and bless our enemies, and not be bitter or vengeful.
But that is exactly the power that we are promised.
We cannot do this on our own, but we can be open to God generating it in us.
Can we at least pray, ‘Lord help me to forgive my enemy, help me to want them to be blessed and not cursed, help me to trust that You have a purpose in this!’
None of this is to dismiss the wrong things that other people do, we are all responsible for our sin and guilt, and God will one day hold us accountable.
And on that day we will discover that we, like others, did things that we were clueless about (they do not know what they are doing).
We will realize that we too will have need for God’s mercy and forgiveness.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6:14-15]
PRAYER:
Lord, I do not have the strength to forgive like this, but You do. Help me to have a merciful heart, leaving others to Your justice and mercy.