Joseph: Forgiveness

Genesis 50:14 – 21 (NASB)

14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

15 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?

• Psalms 51:4 (NLT) Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
  

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.

• Joseph didn’t minimize their sins, for he said, “You intended to harm me” (Gen. 50:20). He knew that there had been evil in their hearts, but he also knew that God had overruled their evil deeds to accomplish His good purposes. Out of the greatest sin ever committed by humankind, God brought the greatest blessing that ever came to humankind.
  

• Acts 2:23 – 24 (NLT) 23But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Ephesians 4:32 (NASB) 32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Philippians 3:13 (NASB) 13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Hebrews 12:15 (NASB) 15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

May our family forgive and forget*

Forgive:

Matthew 18:21 – 22 (NLT)

21Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”

22“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

Colossians 3:13 – 14 (NLT)

13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Matthew 5:23 – 24 (NLT)

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,

24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

Forget:

*1 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

*Romans 12:17 – 18 (NLT)

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

*Psalms 103:8 – 12 (NLT)

The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.