Daily Devotions
The Characteristics of Forgiveness
Title: The Characteristics of Forgiveness
Reading for January 14: Genesis 44-46
So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt."
Genesis 45:4
This is one of the most extraordinary stories of forgiveness in the Bible. After being sold as a slave and suffering in a foreign land for many years, Joseph graciously forgives his brothers.
Notice some characteristics of Joseph's forgiveness:
- It was eager. Joseph didn't just mechanically say, "I forgive you." He said, "Come near to me, please" (v. 4). He wanted his brothers near him! How often do we offer weak attempts at forgiveness that do not show near the desire for reconciliation like Joseph! I might also add that if forgiveness does not lead to reconciliation it is not forgiveness.
- It was complete. Joseph didn't say, "I forgive you," and then put his brothers on probation. He didn't want them to suffer for their crimes. He said, "do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here" (v. 5). This is what forgiveness does. It releases all debts. If you forgive someone and then seek to make them pay for what they've done, you haven't really forgiven them.
- It was motivated by a wide view. Joseph was able to forgive because he recognized that this wasn't just about him. God had a plan behind it all. Four times Joseph tells his brothers that it was God who sent him there to make him lord of Egypt (v. 5, 7, 8, 9). Joseph was sent to save his family (and the world) from hunger. Given that context, he found it easy to forgive. If we could step back for a moment from our narrow and short term perspective, maybe we would be more willing to release our enemies from the debts they owe us and embrace the broad and eternal will of God being worked out through us.
Father God, help us to forgive as Joseph did. Grant us the perspective to see beyond the light and momentary affliction we have to endure to the eternal weight of glory you are working out in and through our lives.
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