#129 Walking in the Rain 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.

22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.

24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:15-26 NKJV

Joseph is a strong model for forgiveness. Often people seem to have difficulty with receiving that which they find most difficult to give. The language of forgiveness is nothing so long as the vaults of vengeance are still full. They were uncertain of their standing with Joseph alone. Was it really the umbrella of their father that had shielded them from a brewing storm? Their approach to Joseph seems almost fabricated, more than a little suspect. Jacob knew that his son feared God, and that his word was good. I think his brothers are name dropping, and associating Joseph's forgiveness with the life of their father. They even go so far as to invoke God. Joseph cries. Oh that they could see, we should weep when we sit across from our fellow man. When their heart is so hardened that they cannot but hate the One they say does not exist. We should weep, and like Stephen, forgive them their trespasses against us. It should be counted for nothing for what greater mercy have we already received. Please God, hold not this sin against them, but Lord forgive me and change the heart of my friend. "Do not be afraid," he says. This is greater than revenge. "For am I in the place of God?" I tire of  my own rights, and who is without sin? It is a done thing this true forgiveness, and there is only one Judge who has right over all creation. Joseph will not curse the blessing and he is at peace with the sovereignty of God. "But as for you, you meant evil against." It is not forgiveness based upon delusion. It is not, oh I know you are a good person that sometimes messes up. We do not pretend that others had our best interest as they were selling us out. Love is not blind to the facts, nor does it withhold the truth. "God meant it for good." The same God of his father and of all the patriarchs before, the same Creator, righteous Judge, finds a way for sinful man to be reconciled. As I drive the nails, of my own murderous pride and self certainty, into the hands and feet of this Messenger, have I silenced the voice of God? Or was this Logos as He said He was from Genesis to the cross? What I saw as trite, irrelevant, and blasphemous to my intellect, a god so petty that he is concerned with the actions of mortal man. Oh my God, what I meant for evil, you have used to forgive me. Help me to forgive. I think often we hide under the supposed umbrella of the church, a Christian wife, parent or belief in our own moral goodness. It is a delusion, we are not born good and the umbrella will never replace the ark.

…34"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." Matthew 18:34&35