relationships (Genesis 50:15-26) Don't Hold Grudges

(Genesis 50:15-26)  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

22 Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION: 

Interesting that the brothers were worried over all those years that Joseph might still be holding a grudge.  Yet the first time Joseph spoke to them about this, he said that he wasn't holding any grudge against them.  If we don't forgive people, we will become angry, fearful and bitter.  And if that is the case, our focus on God will be clouded.  I guess if we ourselves don't forgive others, we would expect that all other people do the very same thing.  As well, if we ourselves struggle to forgive, it might make it more difficult for us to believe that God is forgiving!

As Christians, one thing we need to remember and practice is the love and forgiveness of God.  God's love is unconditional.  And once God forgives us of our sins in that moment of becoming a Christian, He chooses to remember them no more.  In other words, He will not hold any of those things against us.  We have eternal life and eternal security in our salvation because of God's grace.  

Our forgiveness may help the other person as well as the reconciliation process, but it most certainly helps us to remain free of grudge-lists and helps our focus remain on God.  And in the same way, when we do sin, being quick to confess and apologize will always bring us back closer with God and others.