SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
his father’s household from famine. God also allowed for him to be wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife because he had a plan for him to meet with the Pharaoh’s cupbearer in prison. God allowed the cupbearer to forget about him when restored to his position, because God had a later plan for the cupbearer to introduce Joseph to Pharaoh when his heart would be ready to elevate him. Joseph kept a good attitude that helped Joseph “forgive”…on his way to the palace and 2nd in Command in Egypt at age 30. In the same way, we must learn to forgive when our life has been betrayed & trapped by disappointment in some pit or prison we secondly need to…
II. ACKNOWLEDGE THE FORGIVENESS EXAMPLED
A. Forgiveness draws you close to people and God (v. 4, 8). Joseph began to reassure his brothers by pointing to God’s purpose. Joseph could see sheer terror in their eyes. That is when he asked them to “come close to him”.
B. Forgiveness releases true perspective (v. 5, 9) Notice the two words that change everything, “But God!”(v.8). Seeing God at work in his life prevented Joseph from being bitter. He knew that God took the evil intentions of his brothers and overruled them for His purpose. Our assurance today is found in Romans 8:28, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God is behind the circumstances in your life, NOT causing them BUT using them as long as
long as you live in forgiveness and NOT bitterness! The paradox of it all, was that Joseph had been freer than his brothers those 22 yrs. When he had forgiven them (vv. 14-15), “He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept. He kissed all his brothers and wept on them.”
C. Forgiveness heals relationships & rediscovers possibilities (v. 10-11). To fully enjoy Living in Forgiveness, we must see that:
1. Forgiveness is not minimizing the wrong. Joseph doesn’t say, “Boys don’t worry about it, it was not that big a deal!” Joseph knew what had happened and he did not minimize the pain! But forgiveness caused Joseph to see it all in a new perspective. Joseph clearly said “you meant it for evil but God meant it for good.” (50:20).
2. Forgiveness is not throwing blame, but offering healing. Forgiveness is a decision to bring pain to an end. It does not take away the hurt or deny the injury... It refuses to let past hurts stand in the way of a new start.” Grace is a decision to give something good to someone who doesn’t deserve it. That’s what God did for us! That’s what he wants us to do for others. We thirdly need to…
III. ACCEPT THE FORGIVENESS EXTENDED (Gen. 50:19-22)
A. By forgiving, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am (v. 19-20). By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness for God to work out. We have all offended God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you have trusted in his sacrificial death on the cross for you...and have requested His forgiveness for every sin you ever imagined or ever committed. Now we