Friday, February 3, 2012

"Freeing Forgiveness"


The other day, after my friendship blog a friend asked that I add another quality to my friendship bank. In my one year reading, I see the picture of true forgiveness with Joesph and his brothers.

You see because of jealousy, Joseph was sold to be a slave by his own brothers. From a slave he became the kings right hand man. It was in his position that he was false accused by the kings wife of trying to pursue her sexually. Thrown in prison for years, he became the head manager. After several years, he was brought before the king restored as his right hand man, because of dream interpretation.

Famine caused Josephs brothers to Egypt for food. Not knowing that the hand that was about to feed them was their brother. Now imagine the fear of the brothers when they found out that their "lord" was the brother that they betrayed. The bible says that Joseph was overcome with emotion that he had to go into another room to cry.

When Joseph saw the fear in his brothers he said:

"But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
"For these two years the famine [has been] in the land, and [there are] still five years in which [there will be] neither plowing nor harvesting.
"And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
"So now [it was] not you [who] sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Gen 45:5-8)

What a picture of true forgiveness. Joseph was not bitter, that he was sold, then accused and then imprisoned. He saw past his own circumstances, to see the greater work that God was doing in his and his brothers lives.

Forgiveness can be hard to do, and hard to ask for. There is something freeing that happens though when you finally get rid of the hurt and anger. Do you need to be forgiven? Ask for it, perhaps you feel you will be greeted with hostility, but like Joseph you may be greeted with a hug or a kiss. Do you need to forgive? Is pride keeping you back from being a Joseph?

Pray about it now, and give it to the Lord. Trust me there will be burdens lifted left and right if you will humble yourself and just forgive!

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