DAY 25: FORGIVENESS AND HEALING 1

Photo credit: My book of Bible stories

The story of Abraham's family is riddled with schemes, deceptions, abuse and hurt. In the first generation, Abraham (then Abram) deceives Pharaoh that Sarah (then Sarai) was his sister. His son Isaac does the same, years later. 

Jacob and his mother deceive his father Isaac, robbing Esau of his inheritance. And the sons of Jacob deceive their father about Joseph's supposed death. 

Hagar suffered abuse and rivalry with Sarah. The wives of Jacob were in constant rivalry with each other.

The sons of Isaac did not like each other and one brother among the sons of Jacob was bullied. 

For a moment, one might ask when will this family will experience peace?

But this story is like every family's; layered and complex because that's what human beings are.

Through it all, we see God use this family despite their flaws and shortcomings.

This is the reason why Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers is such a monumental moment in the Abrahamic lineage. The closest we had to a reconciliation was Jacob and Esau’s reunion in Gen. 33 but Jacob was so scared of his brother that he lied to avoid him. From the display of affection we see, it seems Esau had forgiven him though.

Joseph's brothers bullied him for years because of their father's preferential treatment (and his won pride 😭), and sold him into slavery under the guise of a fake death. Then returns years later to buy grain from him.

Joseph spent 13 years in total in Egypt before he became prime minister. He endured years of hard labour, scandal, ridicule and pain because his brothers did not like him. How painful it must be for the people you call family to betray you this way. 

Yet when they were at his mercy, 13 years later, Joseph chose the path less travelled, forgiveness.

Virtues like forgiveness are easier said than done.

It is easier to accept than to give.

We plead for mercy when we do wrong 

But when someone wrongs us, that is when we truly realize how hard it is to give it. Joseph chose reconciliation, well, not without the initial drama of imprisoning Simeon and framing them for theft. He chose to see the bigger picture.

Genesis 45:4-8 NIV

[4] Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! [5] And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. [6] For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. [7] But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [8] “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 

What a perspective!

What a heart!

What love!

I will always be a Joseph fan girl (if there's such a thing lol). One man displaying such self-control and emotional maturity is admirable. One man made sure that this cycle of scheming and deception ended with him. It didn't have to continue.

His behavior serves as a foreshadow to the overwhelming forgiveness and love we receive from our Lord Jesus Christ at salvation.

Ishmael was sent away.

Esau’s relationship with his family was strained.

But because of Joseph's act of forgiveness we see the children of Jacob together in Goshen under one name-the nation of Israel.

So beautiful to see this forgiveness not only saved them from hunger but also brought them back together. 

And once again, the children of Jacob lived together in peace and unity. A perfect picture of how we can call ourselves the body of Christ because of Christ's sacrifice.