Not About You
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt." (Genesis 45:4-8)
The story of Joseph and his brothers presents us with a level of forgiveness that most of us will never be called upon to display. Jealous of their father's favor for Joseph, and furious over Joseph's, dream informed, predictions of ruling over them, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and told their father that he'd been killed by an animal. Rather than spend his years of imprisonment ruminating on what had been done to him, Joseph took every opportunity to use his gift of interpreting dreams to help anyone who asked - eventually landing him in the position of authority that his dreams foretold. Although Joseph struggled with his desire to make his bothers pay for what they had done, Joseph realized that it had never been about them or him - it had always been about God fulfilling God's purpose to care for all people.
We don't know how God is going to use our difficulties or the painful actions of others to bring about blessing, but trusting that God will frees us for forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn't nullify or excuse the wrong that's been done, it just makes room for us to see the right that God is doing - in spite of, or because of, that wrong. Forgiveness is an act of love as we place ourselves and the object of our forgiveness fully in God's hands. Sometimes forgiveness will result in reconciliation, and sometimes it will result in a peaceful parting. God loves us enough to forgive our many wrongs - especially forgiving us for turning away from God and God's redemption. We also must love one another enough to forgive. It's not about you, or me, it's about
God getting the glory.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
(Luke 6:32-36)
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