Read
Joseph's Promise
15After Jacob died, Joseph's brothers said to each other, “What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?”
16So they sent this message to Joseph:
Before our father died, 17he told us, “You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you.”
Now we ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.
When Joseph heard this, he started crying.
18Right then, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, “We are your slaves.”
19But Joseph told them, “Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. 20You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing. 21Don't be afraid! I will take care of you and your children.” After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better.
Joseph's Death
22Joseph lived in Egypt with his brothers until he died at the age of 110. 23Joseph lived long enough to see Ephraim's children and grandchildren. He also lived to see the children of Manasseh's son Machir, and he welcomed them into his family. 24Before Joseph died, he told his brothers, “I won't live much longer. But God will take care of you and lead you out of Egypt to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 Now promise me that you will take my body with you when God leads you to that land.”
26So Joseph died in Egypt at the age of 110; his body was embalmed and put in a coffin.
Reflect
Life on this planet is full of injustice. If truth be told, I struggle when I’m not treated fairly! I want justice. I want wrongs to be made right. I want people to know how much pain they’ve caused and how deep their offense has been embedded in my being. Perhaps this is why this passage strikes a chord in my heart every time I read it. Particularly verse 19 that says, “But Joseph told them, ‘Don’t be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing.’”
No doubt Joseph would never forget the betrayal of his brothers. He likely suffered nightmares as a result of the mistreatment he endured in slavery. I’m sure that their relationship was altered forever. But somehow despite all that his brothers did to him, Joseph chose to forgive them. Of course he realized that forgiveness did not wipe out the past. But he also knew that vengeance was God’s. Although Romans 8:28 had not yet been written, he obviously believed that “all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” And although that purpose was more than he could understand he trusted God’s bigger picture.
How about you? Have you been offended, abused or betrayed and sold into slavery by someone you love? We can’t change what has happened to us, but we can choose our response to it. Like Joseph, we can be set free from slavery by choosing to forgive. Step back and see things from God’s perspective. There is a big picture. So smile for the camera.
Respond
Lord, I need emotional healing today. Help me to be less concerned with what has been done to me and more concerned about extending grace to those who have hurt me. Help me to see you work all of the events in my life to make me more like you. Help me to see your bigger picture. Amen.
Lisa Elliott
Lisa Elliott is a popular inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple; Choosing to Live through Loss with Purpose and Dancing in the Rain. Born and raised in Toronto, ON, Lisa is a graduate of Ontario Bible College (Tyndale). She is a pastor’s wife of over 25 years and mother of four children (3 on earth, 1 in heaven). She has written for Just Between Us Magazine and writes a column for Word Alive Press’s website entitled, Straight from the Heart. Lisa’s passion is to share the life changing truths and principles from God’s Word straight from the heart. She and her husband, David are presently serving the Lord in London, Ontario.