Forgiveness…. for Christmas
A Devotional
© 2000 Steve Lattier and MensHelp Ministries
The Word: Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. [2] And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. GE 45:3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. GE 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! [5] And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. [6] For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. [7] But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.* GE 45:8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. [9] Now hurry back to my father and say to him, `This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. [10] You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me--you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. [11] I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.' GE 45:12 "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. [13] Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly." GE 45:14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. [15] And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. GE 45:16 When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. [17] Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, `Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, [18] and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.' GE 45:19 "You are also directed to tell them, `Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. [20] Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.' " GE 45:21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. [22] To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels* of silver and five sets of clothes. [23] And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. [24] Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!" GE 45:25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. [26] They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. [27] But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. [28] And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
I cannot imagine the burning seething pain of being sold into slavery by my family but as you can see in the verses above it took Joseph almost 20 years to get all the way past it and seek reconciliation. As a rule when we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts we have placed our pride or our ego where the grace of God should reside. Men most especially as we are ego-centered creations. Joseph eventually did see that the benefits of forgiveness and reconciliation outweighed his own hurts and wept openly in front of his brothers. It is so important for us to forgive and not just mutter a half sincere “yeah I forgive you” but to LIVE a forgiving lifestyle. The Bible clearly tells us that our own forgiveness depends on us letting go of our own hurts and letting God begin to heal them. (Matthew 6:15) Joseph led that forgiving life and ministered and served his brothers, even giving them a place to live. How is it that we have trouble forgiving our own family a simple unkind word said in a heated moment? Forgiveness may not be easy, sometimes when hurt goes deep we must remember that God is big enough to fill that hole where the hurt resides if we would let Him. God’s word and His example are clear for us, we who have been hurt must be the ones to seek reconciliation. The person who has offended can beg for our forgiveness until they are blue in the face but until we take the first step it is for naught. We must rebuild the bridges that they have burned, not them. Until we soften our hearts and submit to God we cannot be whole, the way God would have us!
We are entering into the holiday season, you are going to be faced with relatives that you only see once a year. Many of us will have the opportunity to see some of our relatives for the last time this side of Heaven. I encourage you to mend fences, rebuild bridges to restore your friends and family. Reach out this holiday season and give someone a gift. If they have asked for it great! If they have never even mentioned it, all the more reason to show that you are filled with the love of Christ and are willing to share that healing love no matter what the past holds!
Pray with me: Father I exalt you and magnify your holy name. I thank you for loving me. This is a tall order, this forgiveness. Father give me the strength to take the first step, give me the courage to say the first word, give me that awesome grace that forgives. Father send the love of your son that covers offense just like his blood covers my sin. In Jesus name. Amen!
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When God is all you've got; God is all you need!
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