15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph's brothers had not been able to accept the fact that Joseph had genuinely forgiven them. They thought Joseph was just acting for the sake of their father, and now that he was dead, they would face his wrath. There were so very mistaken!
How often do we do the same thing?
We do something wrong, and we can't forgive ourselves, and can't believe that God would forgive us. It's like we someone believe we're the one person that sinned so badly, it's unforgivable.
The truth is, that attitude is a slap in the face to Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. Forgiveness did not come easy. Indeed, it came at an unimaginable cost! But it was enough. It was enough to forgive the most heinous act we can think of - when brought to the foot of the cross. The issue isn't the sin. The issue is repentance - bringing it to the Saviour. If we do that, it is enough. It is always enough.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21
3 comments:
Makes me thankful, again, for the forgiveness that He offers, and motivates me to try to do better for Him.
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world." (Mathew 13:35) Just from today's reading in the New Testament, the kingdom of heaven is referred to as a mustard seed, yeast, a garden filled with weeds, hidden treasure, a pearl, and a fishing net. Jesus really wants us to get a feel for what the kingdom of heaven is like!
I particularly noticed the parables about the treasure in the field and the pearl. How often I forget that the greatest treasure is Christ. It is too easy to get caught up in everything else I "have to" do.
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