(Genesis 50:15-26) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
22 Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
After their father's passing, the brothers went to Joseph again to apologize, probably more out of fear than remorse. But even if their apologies were not totally sincere, Joseph had already forgiven them long ago. It seems pretty clear that Joseph's brothers did not understand the forgiveness and grace of God. Joseph did. You know that someone has truly forgiven you when they comfort you.
As soon as someone becomes a believer, God forgives all our sins and we are seen through the righteousness of Jesus. God chooses to remember our sins no more. And as we go forward, God already knows that we will still sin and make mistakes. That is why He extends His eternal grace, so we cannot lose our salvation.
Now, in those moments after we sin, we should feel conviction, and we should feel uncomfortable. Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that these feelings which require "closure" are in anyway connected to other people's actions. What we feel - is all up to us and our own actions.
After sinning, the temptation is to justify ourselves and/or blame someone else, but we need to confess our sins to God, and to others; and apologize to those we've hurt, whether they forgive us or not. This not only helps the relationship/s move towards being reconciled, but it will give our own hearts peace and comfort.
And we need to learn to forgive others as soon as possible, as God has forgiven us, whether they confess and apologize or not, or whether their apologies sound sincere or not. This not only helps the relationship/s move towards being reconciled, but it will free our own hearts from hate, anger, bitterness and thoughts of revenge. God will then fill our hearts with love and empathy for those who have wronged us.
God is the God of love, comfort and peace! Falling into feelings of guilt and fear (after reconciling) is not from God. Falling into feelings of hate, revenge and bitterness is not from God. We need to trust in God's process of reconciliation, and learn to embrace God's grace, and seek after His love, peace and comfort - with Him and with each other.
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