Today we celebrate Good Friday when Jesus gave His life to pay the penalty for our sins.  Because of this great act our sins can be forgiven and we can be reconciled with God.  It’s appropriate that today we pick up the story of Joseph with him offering forgiveness to his brothers for their great sins against him.  Let’s look at the passage together today.

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 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 be no 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.’12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

Joseph is able to offer forgiveness to his brothers because he knows that God had a bigger and better plan all along.  He can see the hand of God in each and every step of this journey.  While Joseph’s life has had many ups and downs God’s plan has been leading to this moment all along.  He ultimately will give the best land in all of Egypt to Joseph’s family.  Israel will prosper greatly under these conditions and become a great nation.  There will certainly be more ups and downs in this journey (Moses is next) but God remains faithful.  God’s faithfulness is the very key to the forgiveness Joseph offers his brothers.  God freely forgives us and calls us to forgive others in return.  Joseph knows that whatever wrongs happen to us God is faithful and will bring us through.  Today embrace the forgiveness of God it truly is a gift of grace.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave