Forgiveness In Action

As I think about forgiveness I’m reminded that it is more of a process than a one-time event. I do realize that forgiveness is initiated, but it really is on-going. I’ve been hurt by others and it’s become easy for me to say, I forgive. I think when I utter those words the process of forgiveness is really just getting started.

Jacob (aka Israel) had just died and Joseph and his brothers were mourning his loss. Joseph orchestrated taking him to the place of his ancestors to be buried. There was a huge Egyptian entourage. Upon return, his brothers started worrying about their relationship with Joseph now that their Dad had died. Check this out…

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’ 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 “This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.” Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.’ When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:15-21 NIV)

I was really touched by the compassion of Joseph. He wept because he obviously had already forgiven them profoundly. He had no intentions of doing any of them harm after their Dad died. I believe it was their guilt over what they had done that created such fear. Guilt is hard to keep away when I’m reminded of the things I’ve done in the past. God loves to remove guilt and the enemy loves to pile it on. Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers really inspires me to keep working on the process of forgiveness even when it’s hard. When Joseph forgave his brothers for what they did to him, it gave him even more tools that served his character as a leader in Egypt. Forgiveness on my part actually serves me in many ways. It is really a double blessing because I’m blessed and I’m blessing the other person too.

Pressing On!

Dwayne