From Pastor Dawson:

Hello Coram Deoites,

This past Sunday we were covering Genesis 46-47. What an incredible section of Scripture coming off the heels of Genesis 45 where Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and does two things for them: (1) forgives them, and (2) provides for them. What a beautiful picture of Jesus!

Forgiving One Another

I had mentioned in my sermon that when we forgive another person it’s at that moment that we look the most like Jesus Christ. I know that as Christians we have plenty of good feeling moments, and we talk a lot about “being like Christ,” and we spend time at church, and we read our Bibles, and we pray, but where the rubber meets the road is during those hard moments where we want to be selfish and mean and get even with others, but instead we choose to love and forgive like Christ did for us.

Let me also add: we need to forgive others, but that doesn’t always mean that we can reconcile with them. Forgiveness and reconciliation are two different things.

Joseph had plenty of reasons to destroy his brothers and really only one good reason to forgive and provide: God’s grace. Joseph knew that God had a plan for the whole event and that God allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery, so that he could ultimately save the lives of thousands. That didn’t take the pain away and that didn’t take the memories away, but it did reveal the action steps that Joseph needed to take. He needed to forgive his brothers and provide for them because something bigger was at work: God.

Living Through Hard Times

Finally, I was struck by Jacob’s words in Genesis 47:9.

The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.

A list of those who had hard lives: Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, the Judges, the Prophets, Paul, Peter, all of the Apostles, and Jesus, the God Man. If none of these escaped a hard life, then why would I be exempt? Why should I be mad at tribulations and trials? Why should I consider myself above abuse? Why should I be spared hurt and neglect? The good news is that Jesus has experienced it all and He conquered it all. He knows how I feel and He is there for me.

Dear Jesus,
I may not understand why I am going through this but I trust you while I am in it. You love me. You died for me. You forgave me of all of my sin. Jesus you led a hard life. Much harder than I have ever experienced. You were stabbed in the back by friends, you were crucified by the crowds that you healed, and you were forsaken by your followers and your Father (Matthew 27:46). You understand. Jesus, help me to have faith in you when things don’t go my way. Help me to use the power of forgiveness which you gave to me to give as a gift to others. It won’t be my power, it will be yours flowing through me. Amen.

May the love of Jesus compel you to righteousness.