True Leaders Forgive

 

True Leaders Forgive

Genesis 50: ¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” ¹⁶ So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ¹⁷ ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

 

¹⁸ Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

 

¹⁹ Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ²¹ Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

 

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Joseph’s brothers hated him and his relationship with their father. Now that Jacob was dead, they figured Joseph’s wrath would finally come out. They sent a messenger to ask for their forgiveness. Then they went to see him and bowed before him and asked for forgiveness.

 

 

My Observations:

• Joseph’s brothers wanted to harm him, but this evil was seen by GOD and used to raise him up.
• Joseph’s brothers were erratic, so they sent a messenger to ask for forgiveness, but felt the need to show up in person.
• Joseph acknowledged their evil and showed mercy, because he could have had them put to death and no one would have blinked by doing so.

 

True leaders hear from GOD and forgive. I believe this entire slice of history is placed in the Bible by GOD to show us that forgiveness is available for us to use any time. False leaders bully people and hide their evil. BUT GOD sees their evil and will repay.

 

Vengeance is owned by GOD. HE will repay. But HE also sees the heart of the forgiver. Joseph’s name is forever known as a leader who GOD raised up to be an example of forgiveness.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Joseph’s forgiveness?
• Are you in need of forgiveness and have not spoken to people in a while, or have you not forgiven someone and are avoiding them?
• Do you see how important forgiveness is to GOD and is there someone you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?

Life Preserver

Life Preserver

Genesis 45: Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

 

³ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. ⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve a ^[a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸ So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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After Judah’s appeal to take the place of Benjamin, Joseph could no longer restrain himself. Joseph had his house steward place his cup in Benjamin’s sack along with the food that he purchased. When all of his brothers were told to return to Egypt, they were terrified. But Joseph had a big reveal for them.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph could no longer pretend to be an Egyptian to his brothers.
• Joseph was so overcome with emotions, that he wept aloud and sent the Egyptians away.
• Joseph explained to his brothers that what they meant for evil, GOD meant for good.

 

Hatred was the motive behind the brother’s actions. They hated Joseph so much, that they wanted to kill him but settled for selling him into slavery. When Joseph revealed he was alive and in charge of Egypt, the brothers got scared.

 

Joseph assured the brothers by explaining that GOD put him in the situations he had gone through. Being thrown in a pit by his brothers, and being accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife and being thrown in prison were all part of GOD’s mysterious plan. Joseph was placed in the highest position because GOD wanted him there. GOD sent Joseph to Egypt to be a life preserver.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s big reveal to his brothers?
• What difficulties are you facing?
• Could GOD be using the difficulties in your life as a way to help many other people in the future?