Today's reading will end our time in Genesis. We will read Genesis 46-50.
Genesis 50
This is one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament. Here we see the love and forgiveness of God demonstrated toward those who don’t deserve it. Now that Jacob was dead, Joseph’s brothers feared that Joseph will finally take revenge on them for what they did. However, Joseph has nothing even close to that in mind.
To me, Joseph seems saddened by his brothers’ fear. Joseph doesn’t say that what his brothers did wasn’t evil, he says in fact that they did mean evil. However, Joseph realizes that God had the final word on what happened. Joseph reminds his bothers of this, pointing out that everything has turned out well.
There is also no offer of forgiveness given by Joseph, but his attitude clearly demonstrates that he did not hold any feelings of unforgiveness. Joseph doesn’t give a mouthed “I forgive you,” but shows his trust in God through it all. Joseph’s words showed his brothers that as far as he was concerned there was nothing to forgive, because of that trust in God.
This is a great example for us. Jesus tells us that we need to forgive those who do wrong to us if we want forgiveness. Here we see why, God has the final word. Paul confirms this in Romans 8:28 when he reminds us that God will work all things together for good for those who trust and follow him. This being the case, we like Joseph, need to be willing not just to forgive those that ask but to forgive everyone who does us evil.
Let us treat those who wrong us with the attitude of Joseph, they meant it for evil (we don’t deny that), but we know God will work it to good.
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