Our theme for this month: “Being a virtuous person”
Our Bible verse for today: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result – the survival of many people. Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:19-21 (CSB)
Our thought for today: “Forgiveness is important but difficult.”
Joseph’s act of forgiveness to his brothers was a pretty big deal – especially considering the magnitude of the wrong they committed against him. The ten older brothers hated Joseph so much that they beat him up, threw him down a well, and then sold him as a slave. Joseph then ended up spending thirteen long years first as a slave, and then as a prisoner in a dungeon, until God finally delivered him. Ultimately Joseph rose to be the second most powerful man in all of Egypt.
You can read the whole story in Genesis chapters 37-50 but long story short, many years later the brothers and their families ended up in Egypt under the authority of Joseph. Joseph could have retaliated against them, having them thrown into prison or even executed. Instead he chose to forgive them. Beyond that, he even blessed them richly. It was far more than they deserved or could have expected, but Joseph was a spiritually mature and kind man. Rather than holding a grudge and exacting revenge, he chose to forgive and to bless.
Forgiveness is a virtue that is important but often difficult. It’s important because the lack of forgiveness hurts everyone involved, none more so than the one who refuses to forgive. When you refuse to forgive an offense you yourself become a prisoner of your own lack of forgiveness. It causes resentment and bitterness to ferment in your heart. Unforgiving people tend to brood on the wrongs committed against them. The one who committed the offense has probably forgotten about it, or hardly ever thinks about it. But the person carrying the grudge thinks about it often. They tend to nurse that grudge, increasing the bitterness and resentment, and that then colors their personality in dark ways. They are the one who is hurt the most by their refusal to forgive. The lack of forgiveness also damages relationships. It keeps people separated rather than reconciled.
Joseph was bigger than that. Rather than clinging to and nursing a grudge he let it go. He forgave his brothers and he used the situation as an opportunity to bless those who did not deserve to be blessed. In the process he brought glory to God.
You can be like Joseph. You can choose to forgive and you can use the situation as an opportunity to bless those who don’t deserve to be blessed. Forgiveness can be difficult but I encourage you to forgive anyway. It’s always the right thing to do and it’s always in your own best interest.
Oak Hill Baptist Church