Forgiveness – opening our hands and our hearts and letting go the pain of the past.
The story of Jacob/Israel ends, Genesis 50, with a further act of reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. They were afraid that now that their father Jacob was gone, Joseph might turn on them for revenge after the way they’d treated him. Wrong Motive – Right Outcome!
16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions(Jacob never did, they feared Joseph) before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to FORGIVE YOUR BROTHERS THE SINS AND WRONGS THEY COMMITTED IN TREATING YOU SO BADLY’ (there were real wrongs to forgive). Now please FORGIVE THE SINS of the servants OF THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER (brothers in the natural and the spiritual). When their message came to him, Joseph wept. Genesis 50:16, 17
The word Forgive is translated in other Bible versions as, ‘FORGET THE WICKEDNESS of your brothers’, don’t think about it again. A visiting preacher said, ‘You’ll know you have forgiven something when you stop talking about it’, good point. Put the wrong behind you and move on! Another version says, ‘BEAR WITH’ the wrongs of your brothers and Strong’s Concordance also has the thought, ‘LIFT, CARRY, TAKE’. Jesus bore/carried people’s sins and we’re called to do the same.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:18-21
Reconciliation worked here because there was humility and good will on both sides. Joseph, the wronged and ill-treated brother, was twice referred to by Jacob as the ‘prince/one over his brothers’. Genesis 49:22, 50:26 Joseph CHOSE LOVE AND RECONCILIATION WITH HIS BROTHERS, RATHER THAN THE RIGHT TO DICTATE TO THEM. Many times human nature wants to rule over others, wants to be boss in place of showing love, bearing with one another. Be warned, it’s not the Kingdom way.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray;
And forgive us our debts, as (in that manner) we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12
In the way we forgive or with the measure we forgive, in that way, we too will be forgiven.
Sadly hurts and wrongs often arise with those nearest and dearest to us, natural families and within the family of believers. Jesus himself was betrayed by ‘one who shared his bread’.
Unforgiveness is a prison that will hold us in the past. We can choose by an act of our wills to forgive the past wrongs and move on. Our feelings will catch up if we’re whole hearted and don’t allow ourselves to dwell on the past.
Choose to go forward and not be locked in painful memories.
God bless and keep you today.