Joseph showed his forgiveness to his brothers by repaying their evil deeds with specific demonstrations of kindness. Joseph's brothers had planned to let him starve and die in a pit, but Joseph gave them food and a place to live well. His brothers tore off his beautiful coat, but Joseph gave them new clothes (v. 22). His brothers sold Joseph into slavery and sent him away, but Joseph said to them, "Come close to me" (v. 4) and saved them and their families from starvation. The brothers mocked and despised Joseph, he loved them and comforted them (v.6).
Joseph was in a position to take revenge on his brothers, but he didn't because, during his years of struggle, God had taught Joseph a different way of thinking and responding to his circumstances. Rather than strike back at his brothers, Joseph extended forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
Joseph even reassured his brothers, saying, "God sent me ahead of you." Essentially he told them, "What you did was wrong, but I'm not angry with you because I know that it was all part of God's plan for my life." Sin is always sin and never excusable, but God works out all things and uses them for His glory, even the sins of others against us.
Joseph didn't just forgive his brothers verbally either. He evidenced his whole-hearted forgiveness when he returned blessings for curses and overcame evil with good.
We too are called to "forgive as we've been forgiven" and “overcome evil with good.”
With Christ living in you, you will:
pray for the forgiveness of those who hurt you
bless those who curse you
do good to those who do evil to you
love those who hate you
And as you do, you will evidence that you are forgiving as you have been forgiven.
Question 7. How can you show forgiveness and overcome evil with good in your marriage? Please share.
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In closing, let’s remember Jesus who as He was dying on the cross, prayed for those who mistreated Him and did good to those who crucified Him.
Like Joseph, Jesus was rejected by His brothers, sold into the hands of Gentiles for pieces of silver. Like Joseph, Jesus was falsely accused and placed between two criminals. And, like Joseph, Jesus was lifted up and exalted to the place of Lord, being the Savior of all who come to Him.
There is no more excellent example of overcoming evil with good than our precious Savior who became sin (evil) for us so that we might become the righteousness (good) of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). If we need additional encouragement towards forgiveness, we only need to look at Jesus and remember the enormous debt of sin of which we have been forgiven so that we might go and do likewise.
To hear more about what it means to forgive as you have been forgiven, listen to Mike and Jody Cleveland discuss this topic in the following audio file.
Question 8. How does the cross of Christ impact your understanding of forgiveness? Please share.
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