Last week we saw how Joseph, his brothers and even the Egyptians mourned the death of Jacob. But what now? What’s next now that Jacob is gone? Do they go back to a normal life back in Egypt? Well they should, but there’s suspicion in the air.
[Read Genesis 50:12-15.]
For some reason or another the brothers weren’t convinced that Joseph had truly forgiven them for selling him into slavery. They were thinking that since their dad was dead nothing would stop Joseph from exacting revenge upon them for their crime. But they had nothing to fear because Joseph had completely forgiven them years ago.
You know, forgiveness is such a freeing act of the will. When we forgive someone for the wrongs they’ve done to us it frees us from our anger towards them. When we’re forgiven by someone for the wrongs we’ve done to them it frees us from the feeling of condemnation. Forgiveness frees up people from things that hinder relationships.
[“That’s okay” phrase; kids forgiving each other examples.]
* Forgiveness is choosing to not punish someone for their wrongs; To not hold it over them; To not remain angry with them; etc.
Again, for some reason the brothers didn’t feel forgiven and were worried about what Joseph might do to them since their father was dead. What they needed to do was:
I. Remember forgiveness
[Read Genesis 50:15-18.]
Now how could they have forgotten how Joseph so dramatically and emphatically forgave them when they were reunited some 17 years earlier.
[Read Genesis 45:3-8.]
Now I know that Joseph didn’t come out and say the words, “I forgive you”. But he surely implied it and from then on continually provided for and protected his brothers. So why did they feel unforgiven?
Maybe it’s because of the instructions that Jacob gave to the brothers before they died?
[Read Genesis 50:16-17a.]
Jacob instructed the brothers to ask Joseph’s forgiveness for what they had done even though it seemed that Joseph had already forgiven them. Now we don’t know why Jacob would do that, unless he felt like it was important for the brothers to own up to their wrongs. Remember, Joseph forgave them even though they never formally apologized to him. So maybe Jacob felt like the brothers got off kind of easy.
And you know what, maybe the brothers did need to verbalize their repentance towards Joseph. After all, they did sell him into slavery!
So because of their father’s instructions and because of their fear of Joseph they went before him, humbled themselves and formally apologized for what they had done. And it didn’t matter that it was something they’d done years and years ago. Deep inside they always knew that they needed to come before Joseph and ask his forgiveness.
[“Sober House” forgiveness from families story.]
Even people of the world know just how freeing it is to give and receive forgiveness.
But it sure is hard at times, isn’t it? Some people have done us so wrong, so many times, and don’t even have a shade of remorse for what they’ve done. But we know we need to forgive them. So how do we do that? How do we forgive the unrepentant? Well Joseph seemed to keep in mind some basic truths about God that enabled him to forgive his brothers. Truths that can help our perspective concerning forgiveness. First we need to:
II. Remember that God is Judge
[Read Genesis 50:19.]
In other words, “I’m just a man. I’m not God. I’m not the Judge. You don’t have to answer to me.” Pretty amazing words from a man who was the Prime Minister of Egypt at the time and who had every right to have his brothers thrown into prison for their past crimes against him.
But Joseph put everything in an eternal perspective and reminded them that he was just a man, a sinful man, just like them.
[Read Matthew 7:1-5, 12:36.]
Who are we to judge one another, meaning, who are we to decide whether or not we can forgive someone. We’re all sinners! God is the only one who can pronounce judgment upon someone. For us to act like we can’t forgive someone because either their wrong was so great or their repentance not genuine enough is putting ourselves in the position of God. Only God is perfect and only God knows the heart. He is the One who will ultimately judge our lives.
[Read Matthew 12:36.]
We must trust that God will judge those who’ve wronged us according to His perfect wisdom, love and grace. Just like He’ll judge us one day. We as humans must simply forgive each other as we want to be forgiven.
How did Jesus instruct us to pray? “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Remembering that God is the Judge will help us forgive others. Another thing that can help us forgive others is to:
III. Remember that God is Sovereign
Joseph repeats to the brothers what he had told them 17 years before – that even
though they sold him into slavery, God had a plan for all the events of his life was in control of it all. They didn’t sell him into slavery – God did!
[Read Genesis 50:20.]
Through the years of trials and triumph Joseph had come to understand that God will accomplish whatever He wants to do in this world. We might think we’re in control of our lives, but providentially God is orchestrating the opera of life.
[Arlington Baptist/TTU handbook story.]
So when someone does us wrong it means that God has allowed them to do such for a reason much bigger than the offense itself. God at any time can stop people in their tracks when they’re on there way to mistreat us. But He often allows people to sin against us for His sovereign plan. Remembering that God is in control can help us forgive those that sin against us. After all, God allowed it to happen.
[God opening His hands demonstration.]
A final thing that we see in this passage that can help us forgive others is when we:
IV. Remember that God is love
[Read Genesis 50:21.]
Joseph shows some amazing grace to these brothers who finally came forth and apologized for their sins. With kind, compassionate words Joseph comforted them and assured them that he would continue to care for them all. (Remember, he the 2nd youngest brother of them all – but he was the leader and provider for the entire family!)
Joseph had a strong love for his family because he understood the love of God. God had cared for him through all his years of trials. God had never let him down. And since he knew he was loved by God he had love for his brothers – even though they sinned against him!
We have that same motivation to love others today.
[I John 4:7-11.]
God has expressed His love for us not only through Jesus Christ but through His daily provision for all of our needs. We love because He loves us. And our love is often expressed through our forgiveness. After all, isn’t that one of the greatest ways God’s displayed His love for us?
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross God has completely forgiven us for all our sins. All of them. The big ones, the little ones, the public ones and the private ones we hope no one ever knows about. God has forgiven them all!
And is a perfectly Holy God can forgive all our sins, who are we, as imperfect sinners, to withhold forgiveness towards others?
God hasn’t forgiven us because we’ve merited that forgiveness by our good works. God’s forgiven us because Jesus has satisfied the debt we owe for our sins.
[Read Romans 5:8.]
[Elysse tearing up new jeans the first time she wore them story.]
God has given us life – and even a new life when we were saved. Yet, we continue to take the new life He’s given us and tear it up with our sins. But He continue to fix the messes we make when we go to Him and repent for what we’ve done. He’s willing to do that because He has such a deep, perfect, inexhaustible love for us.
So because He loves us, we love others, and that love is often expresses by our willingness to forgive our offenders.
So when we’re faced with a situation that calls us to forgive someone, we need to remember that God is Judge, God is Sovereign and God is love. Listen to the words of Jesus concerning forgiveness.
[Read Matthew 18:21-35.]
If we aren’t willing to forgive those who sin against us, God will chastise us until we realize what we need to do.
Sometimes we struggle with forgiving people. They’ve caused us so much pain. But once we decide not to hold their sin over their head any more, we are freed to live like we ought to live. Holding on to anger just enslaves us – spiritually and emotionally.
[Forgiving “mom” story.]
