Forgiveness

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Forgiveness

One of the most difficult issues for anyone to deal with is forgiveness.
I've struggled with this myself, and no matter how many times I say, "I forgive" a wrong done against me, can it really be forgiveness if there's any kind of resentment lingering
within the heart?

I'm convinced that the most sincere and real forgiveness can only happen in Jesus.

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Joseph

I was reading through the book of Genesis recently through the account of Joseph and the forgiveness that he showed toward his brothers.

It must have been terrible for him to hear his own brother's expressing their desire to kill him.

Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. Genesis 37:20

They were jealous of Joseph because, not only did their father favor him, and made him a coat of many colors, but they were also angry about the dreams that Joseph shared with them.

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.Genesis 37:6-8

As if the first dream wasn't enough to upset his brothers, Joseph had another dream and he told them the dream.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?Genesis 37:9-11

At first, his brothers and his father (Jacob) rebuked him over the dream. But Jacob knew about the power of God. He had his own experiences with the Lord, even seeing a ladder that reached up into the heavens with angels ascending and descending on it, as well as seeing the power of God at work in the situation with his father-in-law.

So Jacob considered Josephs dream.

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. Genesis 37:11

The events that took place are much like the account of Cain and Abel. Cain was so jealous that God had accepted his brothers offering, and did not accept his that he allowed that resentment to fester in his heart and he killed his brother.

There has to be a very intense hatred of another for a person to even think of taking a life.

Josephs brothers were much the same. Their own resentment grew in their hearts and a root of bitterness took hold.
Rueben stood against killing Joseph but still allowed him to be sold into slavery.

The intenseness of this account is heart-wrenching. Joseph was only seventeen years old. (Gen 37:2)
His brothers stripped him of his coat because their father had made it for him, and they threw him into a pit.
They were going to leave him there to die, but Judah, Joseph's brother thought that they should make a profit off of him, so they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

Later, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, and he excelled as a servant so greatly, that Potipher made Joseph the head of his house.

Potiphar's wife had other plans for Joseph, as we all know, and Potiphar had him thrown into prison. Joseph was completely innocent.

Joseph wasn't in prison for a short stint. Even after he interpreted dreams that came to pass, years passed before Joseph was brought before the Pharoah to interpret his dreams.

Joseph showed a great deal of humility, and wisdom when he answered Pharoah.

And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.Genesis 41:16

He gave God the credit even before the dream was interpreted.

Joseph grew in power in Egypt becoming only second to Pharoah when his brothers came into Egypt seeking corn. (Gen 42:2)

When Joseph saw his brothers he didn't immediately tell them who he was. Years had passed since they sold him into slavery and his appearance must have changed because they didn't recognize him. (Gen 42:8)

At this point, Joseph remembered his dreams. The dreams that caused his brothers to be so resentful of him were coming to pass.

And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. Genesis 42:9

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. Genesis 42:23

As we know, Joseph did forgive his brothers, and they settled peacefully in Egypt.

God always has a plan and a purpose in mind, even when a situation seems to be as hopeless as the events that Joseph experienced.

God was with him through it all and even strengthened him.

When Joseph revealed who he was to his brothers, he said:

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20

"God took what was meant for bad, and made it good," and fulfilled the prophecy given to Abraham four generations earlier: (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph.)

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. Genesis 15:13-14

Joseph had remained faithful to God, and God strengthened him and used him to carry out His purpose. Joseph knew this when he told his brothers that God takes what was meant for bad, and makes it good. He understood because he had a relationship with God and depended on God so greatly.

Joseph forgave his brothers.

We may have issues in our own lives that led to unforgiveness, but God can use any situation no matter how difficult it may appear to be to us, and He can turn it around and make it good, and in Jesus, even the deepest wounds can be healed.

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_**And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28**_ July 12, 2017