It always amazes me how God can redeem some of the most painful and ugly situations. I was reading the very last chapter of Genesis regarding Joseph. Joseph had been betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. They had dealt treacherously and cruelly with him. But Joseph’s eyes were always on God. So that at the end of this chapter Joseph was able to say to his brothers, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”
Earlier in Genesis 45:7 Joseph said to his brothers, “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here but God.”
Make no mistake Joseph suffered because of what his brothers had done and not just for a week or two, but for years. Yet, by God’s grace Joseph was able keep his gaze on God and His plan. Joseph’s story, or really God’s story is truly humbling, because it is a tremendous reminder of God’s sovereignty, wisdom and love that is so incredibly different than the inclinations of our very human hearts.
Last Sunday our pastor asked us if we knew Jesus was coming back in the next 15 minutes would we be willing to declare an international amnesty (day so to speak)…and forgive those that have wronged us, so that when we went to face God at those end of those 15 minutes…our hearts would be clean before God? It is a powerful question to contemplate.
There is a great cost to unforgiveness in this lifetime and in the next life. Is it worth it?
