“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” (Genesis 50:20)
Have you ever felt betrayed? REALLY
betrayed? Inside it’s like you have been DESTROYED by what happened, and worst
of all, the anger growing within is often the result of betrayal by someone you
truly CARED for. You opened your emotions to them, you shared with them, and
they answered with betrayal. You and I have opened up in the past to those “who did
us wrong”
in very serious ways, and though forgiveness is possible in our Lord, it is
something else to forget.
In our Scripture for today, we find the
recorded words of Joseph, son of Jacob. His father was the son of Isaac, son of
Abraham. Jacob had been a clever, deceitful man who subsequently was gentled by
the circumstances of life and by a holy God. The Lord changed the man’s name
(and his heart) from “Jacob” (“heel-catcher” or “supplanter”) to “Israel,”
which means “God strives” or “Prince with God.”
Joseph was born to Israel (Jacob) somewhat
later in life, and mostly he saw the gentle man his father had become. Most of Joseph’s brothers had come into the world earlier, and they exhibited varying
degrees of the cleverness and jealousy that characterized their father as a
younger man. Have you noticed that? Your children are indeed individuals, but
they also reflect who you are. If fathers or mothers are cold and aloof,
something of those characteristics will be “caught” by their little ones, almost
like “catching” a “disease” of the soul. Children become “mirrors” that
reflect parents, and we tend to be troubled by what we see of ourselves in them.
Joseph was the “favorite” of his father.
Most of his brothers were “half”-brothers. They all had the same father, but
four mothers were involved. Joseph’s mother, Rachel, was the love of Jacob’s
(Israel’s) life, and Joseph, (like his full-younger brother, Benjamin) was adored
as a child. In addition, Joseph was gifted by the Lord. He had prophetic dreams
about a future time in which his brothers and other family members would bow
down to him. The other brothers knew all this and they were disgusted by him.
They had murderous feelings. Thoughts have a way of becoming reality and on a
certain day they threw him into a pit, prepared a trumped-up story for Jacob and
were going to leave Joseph for dead.
This account of the events that led up to
the time when his brothers betrayed Joseph can be read in the Book of Genesis,
starting with Chapter 29. Joseph was pulled up out of that pit and sold to slave
traders, who then re-sold him for profit as a slave in Egypt. He worked hard,
but he was betrayed again and ended up in prison. It was very
difficult. It says of that time: “they hurt his feet with
fetters, He was laid in irons” (Psalm 105:18). Joseph had lots of time to
think about his brothers.
God subsequently reached into that dark place and
rescued Joseph, raising him amazingly to the position of Governor of all Egypt.
In that office, Joseph made godly decisions that resulted in saving innumerable
lives during the famine that came upon the land. Included were his brothers
and father. “His brothers…
fell down before his face, and they said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’”
He responded, “Do not be afraid” (Genesis
50:18-19). Joseph was enabled by God to – forgive.
It might have been Joseph’s opportunity to
revenge the betrayal done to him, but instead it was God’s time to reveal HIS
heart through the man. Joseph said: “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” (Genesis 50:20).
In the book, “The
Hidden Hand of God, Turning Points,” there is an interesting true story
by Richard W. O’Donnell, called “Waiting for the Bus”
(page 143). In Hawaii, the author rode “The Bus” as
the service is called and he became acquainted at the bus stop with a Korean lady named
Minnie, a widow who lived alone. She observed, “You’re a
Christian” and the author nodded. She said, “I used
to be a Christian… wish I still was.” She
came from a Christian family and had lived in fear when the Japanese took over
her country, Korea. One night her priest left and never came back. The community
did not know if he ran away or was arrested. His departure felt like a betrayal
to them. She said, “I lost track of my religion”
and “I hate the Japanese.”
Minnie no longer took the bus when she
got a different job, but she sought him out at the bus stop several months
later. This time she had a “warm glow” and a “look
of contentment.” She said, “I’m a Christian now…
God has welcomed me home again.” She reported that
“a little Japanese woman who came to Hawaii…
helped me… I don’t think I
would have made it if she had not been my friend…” She paused and then
continued, “Maybe I don’t hate the Japanese anymore…
Maybe I’m beginning to like them. Maybe that was why God
made me wait so long before He welcomed me home again.” The author
observed: “Letting go of her hatred had transformed her.”
God is no stranger to betrayal. The Bible
contains many recorded accounts of treachery. Judas Iscariot sold-out our
Lord to the authorities revealing that God personally understands OUR feelings,
our hurt. Judas betrayed God. It is interesting that it really was OUR sins that
put Jesus on the cross. When Judas betrayed the Lord, WE betrayed Him, and we
have done it each and every time we sinned. Instead of blaming others,
it’s time to think about what we have done. If anyone should be
carrying a grudge, it’s the Lord, and yet there is FORGIVENESS in Christ Jesus. As
the crowd mocked Him and cast lots for His clothing; as He bore your sins and
mine, He said: “Father, forgive them for they do not know
what they do” (Luke 23:34). He forgives – you and me.
Read the words of Jesus and understand that
you do not need to fear. The words of Joshua to his brothers are the beginning of
understanding that the forgiveness we have withheld is now possible for you and
me. Not in our strength, but in the power and love of God. It’s time to forgive. Let’s do
it now:
Lord, we give you our anger, our fear,
our resentment. Forgive us, heal us, and in Your strength, Lord, forgive those who caused
us pain. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
First Church On The Net
www.FridayStudy.org
Ron@FridayStudy.org "While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8)
__________________________________________________
Donations to this ministry are greatly appreciated
and may be sent to:
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131 USA
