Kind of Like Joseph

Most people know the story of Joseph, the guy with the dreams and the colorful coat. His brothers sold him out (literally) and lied to Israel (their father) about it all, leaving Joseph for dead in their father’s world.

Years later, after Joseph saves the family in Egypt, Israel dies. The brothers fear Joseph will have his revenge. In Genesis 50 we read this:

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

For many reasons this is one of my favorite stories. How many headlines could be written about it?

Brothers getting past their issues to forgive and love

Israel’s dysfunctional family is used by God to shape the destiny of millions of people

Experience the power of forgiveness

God alone has the right to administer final judgment

There is no justification to hold wrongs inside, so confess your sins

There is no justification to hold wrongs against, so forgive the sins of others

There is no justification to do wrong, so don’t

Final word today… I have a friend from school days. Back then I was really hurtful to him. Really mean. He recently reached out to me and offered a hard word of reality. We exchanged messages and he offered forgiveness. It was really good for me. He knows who he is and I hope he reads this. He helped me by being brutally honest and then forgiving.

Kind of like Joseph.


Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.