Genesis 49-50

January 17

Genesis 49-50

Forgiveness. Forgiveness is hard to give at times. We like to hold on to grudges because it seems to give us power over a situation or over a person. Forgiveness seems to release someone from the wrong they have done to us. Forgiveness can seem unfair. But forgiveness in reality releases us. It unshackles us from burdens we do not need to carry.

Joseph forgave his brothers. They had thrown him in a pit, sold him into slavery, and lied to his father telling him Joseph was dead. He had every reason to hold a grudge. Instead of blaming his brothers, Joseph saw God’s hand at work in the midst of their evil. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20, NIV)

After Jacob died, the brothers were afraid that Joseph would seek revenge. They knew he had the power to squash them and were afraid he would use it. But Joseph had forgiven them. They did not need to try to convince Joseph, it was done. His brothers were carrying around their guilt. They had a hard time accepting forgiveness or forgiving themselves.

Receiving forgiveness can be difficult. We feel like we need to do something to earn it. We feel like we should pay back in order to get forgiveness. We struggle with God’s forgiveness. We try to bargain with God. We try to earn His favor. We try to do things to get Him to forgive us, when He has already forgiven us. All he wants us to do is ask, to turn away from our sin and to turn toward Him. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV)

When we realize how much we have been forgiven, it is easier to give forgiveness to those who wrong us. What does the giving and receiving of forgiveness look like in your life?