NKJV 365 / Forgiveness

NKJV 365 Day Reading Plan

Day 198 of 365 Forgiveness Joseph had every reason to withhold mercy from his brothers. They had made his life miserable for years. He had felt the sting of their dislike-teasing, bullying, ignoring, bad-mouthing, and finally betraying him. Now the shoe was on the other foot. They had played right into his hands. Some of us have been likewise hurt. We have known the sting of unkind words, the embarrassment of public putdowns, the secret sorrow of being left out. We've been laughed at, slighted, misquoted, cheated, snubbed, lied to, or misunderstood. Perhaps we've even been betrayed by a husband, deceived by a friend, mocked by a relative, put upon by a coworker, made the brunt of some cruel joke. When confronted by little digs, false assumptions, malicious gossip, or blame shifting, our first impulse is to lash out, prove our innocence, and assert our rights. Anger wells up in our hearts, and with it the desire to strike out. Nothing would make us feel better than to get even-to make our oppressors feel the same pain we have suffered at their hands. Joseph's power over his brothers is poetic justice. It's ironic that their treachery would eventually put Joseph in a place to avenge himself. What would you have done in Joseph's place? His betrayers at his mercy. Those who had most hurt him groveling at his feet. They had ignored his pleading-now he could relish the sound of theirs. But no. As his brothers cowered in his presence, Joseph relented. He recognized the hand of God in his circumstances. Joseph set aside vengeance and chose forgiveness instead. Rather than triumphing over them, he calmed his brothers' fears, comforted them in their sorrow and regret, assured them of their safety, and spoke kindly to them. Would you do as much the next time you find the tables have turned? Christa Kinde Taken from Women of Faith Devotional Bible Genesis 50:15-21 NASB 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!" 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.