Monday, August 22, 2011

Forgive Others As God Forgives You

“But don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”

-- Genesis 45:5

Joseph had every right to hold a grudge. His jealous brothers had placed him in a cistern, then sold him into slavery. Joseph had suffered greatly before he became the second most powerful person in Egypt.

Now Joseph was in a prime position to retaliate against his brothers. They had come to him for food. He could have denied them. He could have ordered them killed. Instead, he gave them grace and forgiveness. Much like Jesus has given to us.

One important thing to remember about this passage of Scripture is that Joseph’s brothers hadn’t asked for forgiveness. Were they sorry? Absolutely. They were also terrified. This brother they had so greatly wronged held their fate in his hands. They, no doubt, were thinking that he would exact revenge as they would have done were the situation reversed. They didn’t expect Joseph to embrace them in love.

This isn’t to say Joseph was perfect. He wasn’t. Nor did he extend forgiveness immediately, as Pastor Meghan recently pointed out. The first time they came to Joseph -- not knowing that this powerful man was their brother -- he put them all in prison for three days, vowing they wouldn’t be allowed to return home until their youngest brother was brought to him. Joseph wanted to see Benjamin, the other child of his mother.

The brothers spoke among themselves, not realizing that Joseph could understand them. They still saw him as a powerful Egyptian. They blamed their fate on their decision to “murder” Joseph years before. Scripture tells us Joseph had to leave the room and find a place where he could weep.

What must he have been thinking? He was finally in a position to harm the brothers who had wanted him dead, to exact revenge they certainly deserved, and all he wanted was to be reconciled to his family. It was a difficult thing. Forgiveness isn’t so easy when your heart is broken.

Joseph finally relented and allowed all but Simeon to return home. Simeon would remain a prisoner until the others returned with Benjamin. Joseph also had their payment secretly included with the grain he’d given them. They discovered this after they already left. They were terrified but continued home.

Time passed and Joseph’s brothers were forced to return to Egypt for food. They brought Benjamin, as commanded. And it was then that Joseph revealed his identity to them. He’d had an opportunity to work things out within himself. He was ready to forgive.

Pastor Meghan said that forgiveness means to acknowledge that some wrong or injustice has been done and to choose not to hold it against that person any longer. It’s not about whether they repent and admit their mistakes. It’s not about them asking for your forgiveness. It’s about you letting go of the wrong they have done and moving toward reconciliation.

Who do you need to forgive today? Who has done you wrong? Who has hurt you and tried to bring bad things down on you? Let it go. Give it to God and put it behind you. Forgive them as God has forgiven you, not because they deserve it but because it’s the only way to truly grasp what God has done for you and me.