Have you ever been so hurt, so wounded, that the very thought of forgiving brought such anger you wondered where it came from? There are so many who say,"You don't know my pain." or "This hurt is so deep, I can't ever forgive." Yet forgiveness is commanded. We do not often see others forgive those who have hurt them, it is not modeled for us to copy. How do we learn to forgive? Often, we cannot forgive, and that is a good place to start- confession of our own inability to forgive. Then asking God to give us the ability to forgive. And then, finding a practical picture of forgiveness we can walk. This is found in Gen.45:4-14. Joseph had just revealed himself to his brothers, and they were dismayed.They were not asking for reconciliation. Not a joyous family reunion. How did Joseph respond?
In v.4 Joseph says, "Please come closer to me." Joseph closes the gap, both physically and emotionally. No past grudge is shown. No thought of 'they hurt me, so they should repent first.' or even expecting them to make the first move. Joseph initiates reconciliation. The one hurt- not the ones who inflicted the hurt.
Verse 5 "...do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Joseph encouraged his brothers to forget about the past, not by sweeping it under the rug as if it had never happened; but by seeing it through God's eyes. God had a plan for this, Joseph saw his life,years of slavery and separation from family as part of God's wonderful plan. He urged his brothers to see it that way as well. In having this attitude, Joseph was not holding his brothers guilty. He did not hang onto a desire to see them pay for what pain they had caused. He gave up his right to treat them as he had been treated. All he wanted was the joy of reconciliation. When others hurt us- do we release them of the burden of responsibility? Joseph repeated this 3 times in v.5,7,& 8, assuring them that this was God's plan all along. Absolving them of guilt, making sure they heard God's involvement in it all.
Then in v.9 &10 Joseph welcomes them.'Come down to me, and do not delay'. Come, live here, all of you!
I will give you the best of the land, you shall live near me. What a welcome! A picture of complete forgiveness. And Joseph doesn't stop there. In v.11 he says "There I will also provide for you,".
Joseph was looking out for the welfare of those who had given him the most pain. He was ministering to them and seeing ahead to their future needs. True forgiveness looks out for the welfare of those who have hurt us, ministering to needs they may not even know they have. Meeting practical needs in their lives as well.
What a beautiful picture of how God wants us to walk in reconciliation- reaching out beyond the 'I forgive you' that we learn when we are young to the "I welcome you and I will take care of you". A foreshadowing of the work Jesus has done- yes He has forgiven us, at great cost, but He also welcomes us to Himself and takes care of us.
O Lord, today may I walk in that forgiveness, receiving from you and giving to others that which is beyond my own ability and comes fully from You, ministering to the hearts of others.
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