Daily Devotion, February 3, 2020

Devotion:

Read Genesis 45:3-8.

This is one of the most powerful stories of forgiveness in all the Bible! It is hard to imagine the hurt and anger Joseph must have felt when his jealous brothers sold him as a slave to a group of traveling merchants. When the merchants sold him as a slave in Egypt, Joseph must have lost what little hope that remained for a return some day to his home and family. Then, falsely accused and thrown into prison, he surely thought of his brothers and dreamed of a day when he would get even with them. After a dramatic turn of events, Joseph became second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt, and his brothers came begging for food in order to survive the famine. It was the perfect opportunity for Joseph to exercise his power, turn his brothers away, or perhaps even to have them punished. Instead, in this beautiful scene of reconciliation, Joseph chose not to judge his brothers but to forgive them!

We are human, and we often allow hurt, insult, and pain to turn us against others. Recently someone was describing the animosity and separation in her family. She and another family member have not spoken for years, and she cannot remember the incident that drove them apart. Joseph’s example teaches us to put hurt aside and to forgive!

Personal Worship Option:

Read the passage again, thinking about all the feelings Joseph must have put aside. Does his example remind you of a situation in your own life? We are never supposed to allow others to abuse us, but we are supposed to forgive. If there is someone you have judged, pray for the strength to put hurt aside and to forgive them.