A lesson in forgiveness (Genesis 50:1-21), Jan 20, 2015

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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Genesis 50.

I’m always surprised when someone truly forgives another, but the guilty cannot forgive themselves. That’s what happened with Joseph’s brothers. Joseph learned many years before I was working all the events of his life to save his family. Some of his trouble came because of his behavior, the proud announcement of his dreams to his brothers, the flaunting of the coat his father gave him above his brothers.

I know his father contributed to Joseph’s early problems with pride. I used his brothers’ envy to help humble him. The methods I used probably seem pretty harsh to you, but I had Joseph under My care the whole time. He needed to understand humility. He needed to understand forgiveness. He learned to forgive his brothers while in the service of the prison guards and came to understand I knew what I was doing in his life.

Joseph understood forgiveness. He could have shown anger and bitterness toward Potiphar’s wife for falsely accusing him. Instead, he forgave her and became responsible for caring for all his fellow prisoners under the direction of the captain of the prison guard.

Joseph could have complained about the cupbearer who forgot him for two years after he was restored to his position with Pharaoh according to the dream Joseph interpreted for him. Instead, he continued to patiently carry out the duties the captain of the guard gave him each day. He forgave the cupbearer long before the cupbearer remembered his oversight and told Pharaoh about one who could interpret the dreams I give men from time to time.

Joseph understood the power of forgiveness. But his brothers never forgave the way Joseph did and so didn’t understand their brother could forgive the way I forgive. They didn’t understand I worked through the events of his life to bring good to all those around him. They didn’t understand I could weave the evil events into a greater good and bring restoration and peace into broken relationships. Even after Joseph welcomed them into the palace and told them. They could not forgive themselves and felt they must create a story to avoid punishment from Joseph for the guilt they carried. Joseph’s forgiveness of their actions extended grace and mercy, not punishment. Just like My forgiveness.

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Genesis 50:1-21
Set – Genesis 50; Luke 20
Go! – Genesis 49-50; Psalms 8; Luke 20

Genesis 50:1-21
1As his father passed on, Joseph threw himself onto his father’s face, crying and kissing him. 2 Then Joseph told the physicians in his service to embalm his father and prepare him for the journey. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 It took 40 days to embalm him because that’s how long it takes to embalm a body properly. And the Egyptians paid their respects by mourning and weeping for him for 70 days.

4 When the time of mourning had passed, Joseph addressed Pharaoh’s household.

Joseph: If I have found favor with you, please speak to Pharaoh on my behalf. 5 My father made me swear an oath. He said, “I am about to die. I want you to bury me in the tomb I made for myself in the land of Canaan.” So I ask that you allow me to go out of Egypt to bury my father. When I have honored his request, I will return to Egypt.

Pharaoh: 6 Go up to Canaan, and bury your father as he made you swear to do.

7 So Joseph went up to Canaan to bury his father. And all of Pharaoh’s servants went with him in a long procession that included the elders of Pharaoh’s household and the land of Egypt. 8 Joseph’s own household, his brothers, and his father’s household joined in the solemn march. Only their children, flocks, and herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 Both chariots and charioteers accompanied him as well. It was a grand procession. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad near Canaan but still beyond the Jordan River, the great company of mourners paused to observe seven days of mourning for Joseph’s father. The weeping and lamentation grew so loud that 11 the people who lived there, the Canaanites, could not help but notice the profound grief expressed on the threshing floor of Atad.

Canaanites: The Egyptians must have experienced a terrible loss to mourn so deeply.

This is why this place of mourning that lies beyond the Jordan was renamed Abel-mizraim.

12 So Jacob’s sons carried out his last instructions as he had directed. 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite so he could have a place to bury his family. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph gathered his brothers and the vast company of mourners who had journeyed with him to bury his father, and they all returned to Egypt.

15 When Joseph’s brothers began to realize the implications of their father’s death, Joseph’s brothers began to worry.

Joseph’s Brothers: What if Joseph still bears a grudge in some way against us and decides to pay us back in full for all of the wrong we did to him?

16 So they sent a message to Joseph.

Joseph’s Brothers’ Message: Your father gave us this instruction before he died. 17 He told us to say to you, “Please, I beg you. Forgive the crime of your brothers and the sins they committed against you. They were wrong to treat you so badly.” So please do what your father asked and forgive the crime that we, the servants of the God of your father, committed against you.

Joseph cried when they spoke these words to him. 18 And his brothers approached and fell at his feet.

Joseph’s Brothers: Look! We are your slaves.

Joseph: 19 Don’t be afraid. Am I to judge instead of God? It is not my place. 20 Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it only for good, and through me, He preserved the lives of countless people, as He is still doing today. 21 So don’t worry. I will provide for you myself—for you and your children.

So Joseph reassured them and continued to speak kindly to them.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Music by the Booth Brothers from Room for More, “Faithful One” ©2008.
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