So, we’ve established that as Christians, we do not take revenge, but now let’s consider what we are to do. Romans 12:20-21, “To the contrary, “...if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We can see a beautiful illustration of overcoming evil with good in the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). For the purpose of this lesson, I will provide a brief summary of the life of Joseph, and then we will consider how we might apply the biblical principles we see displayed in his life to our own:
Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Joseph was greatly loved by his father but hated by his brothers. As a young man, he was sent out by his father to check on his brothers, but when they saw him coming, they plotted against him. They plotted his death originally but instead sold him into the hands of Ishmaelites for pieces of silver. Joseph was then taken to Egypt and sold as a slave to work in the house of Potiphar (Genesis 37-38).
While in Potiphar's house, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit and subsequently thrown into prison where he remained for many years (Genesis 39-40). Then, through a set of divinely inspired circumstances, Joseph was brought up from the prison and exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh.
A few years after Joseph came to power, a severe famine came upon the land which resulted in Joseph’s brothers coming to Egypt for food. His brothers did not recognize Joseph when they knelt before him and requested to buy food for their families, but Joseph did recognize his brothers (Genesis 42-44).
In Genesis 45, we read of how Joseph revealed his identity and responded to his brothers who had sinned against him so grievously:
“Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.'…15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him…21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.” Genesis 45:4-11,15, 21-23 (NIV)
Question 6. How did Joseph evidence obedience to Romans 12:20-21 in responding to his brothers?
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