Anyone who knows the story of Joseph would understand what his brothers
had placed him through. It was horrible. I believe even before they sold
him as a slave, they bullied him and made him feel bad because of the
dreams that he had. Imagine having been sold, by your own brothers.I
cannot even begin to think of the kind of offense and resentment I would
feel if my sisters would do something of a similar act of disowning me.
Nancy once told me out of her disappointment that I did not have pasalubong (a treat) for her when I got home, "You're not my sister, you did not bring me pasalubong." I remember being extremely hurt. I even said, "Remember what you told me, Nancy." I knew that seeds of resentment were being planted in my heart. It took a day for me to be able to speak to her again. She's a five year old who needed discipline but really did not understand what she was saying.
It would be understandable for me if Joseph never forgave his brothers again. I would feel for him if held a grudge because of everything he's been through just because of his brothers' envy. I would utterly get it. Perhaps if it was me, so what if I was placed in a high seat of politics?! People who were supposed to love me treated me like dust. I could imagine the kind of bitterness he could have for them if only... If only God did not reveal to him the his plans and if only God's grace was not sufficient.
"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." Genesis 45:8
This was a familiar passage. But it struck me today. I knew that Joseph was so mature that he would be able to forgive his brothers. Never once in Scripture did he curse or express resentment for his brothers. When the times were the toughest, Scripture would always note that "the Lord was with Him."
It's familiar to know that because God forgave us, we should forgive others as well. But Joseph saw the bigger picture. He had such a relationship with God that he perceived all the trials and suffering that he went through to be God's way of making His purposes come to pass.
What?? He never blamed his brothers?? I know this was how the story went. But I find it mind-blogging to come to a point wherein you look at the person who has terribly hurt and violated you in the past and tell that person, you did not do this to me, don't worry about it, it was not you, God did because he had a plan. Joseph did not only forgive them, he set them free of any hint of accountability for everything he had gone through.
I can name people whom I choose to forgive but still feel hurt or bitterness towards (it's a process). But to come to the level wherein you could see this person that has hurt you and understand that God used this person to bring you to a higher level of blessings...now that's FAITH.
I believe that it is faith and revelation that could only come from being in an intimate relationship with God. In Joseph's darkest hours, God was with Him. How close can you get? Sometimes, when you get close to people, you understand their perspective. I believe Joseph was able to see his brothers through God's eyes.
My prayer today is to see people the way Joseph saw his brothers. I pray that when I see people who have hurt me, offended me, or did any harm against me that I could totally forgive them, set them free in my heart and most of all love them because God used these people for us to become the person we were meant to be.
Nancy once told me out of her disappointment that I did not have pasalubong (a treat) for her when I got home, "You're not my sister, you did not bring me pasalubong." I remember being extremely hurt. I even said, "Remember what you told me, Nancy." I knew that seeds of resentment were being planted in my heart. It took a day for me to be able to speak to her again. She's a five year old who needed discipline but really did not understand what she was saying.
It would be understandable for me if Joseph never forgave his brothers again. I would feel for him if held a grudge because of everything he's been through just because of his brothers' envy. I would utterly get it. Perhaps if it was me, so what if I was placed in a high seat of politics?! People who were supposed to love me treated me like dust. I could imagine the kind of bitterness he could have for them if only... If only God did not reveal to him the his plans and if only God's grace was not sufficient.
"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." Genesis 45:8
This was a familiar passage. But it struck me today. I knew that Joseph was so mature that he would be able to forgive his brothers. Never once in Scripture did he curse or express resentment for his brothers. When the times were the toughest, Scripture would always note that "the Lord was with Him."
It's familiar to know that because God forgave us, we should forgive others as well. But Joseph saw the bigger picture. He had such a relationship with God that he perceived all the trials and suffering that he went through to be God's way of making His purposes come to pass.
What?? He never blamed his brothers?? I know this was how the story went. But I find it mind-blogging to come to a point wherein you look at the person who has terribly hurt and violated you in the past and tell that person, you did not do this to me, don't worry about it, it was not you, God did because he had a plan. Joseph did not only forgive them, he set them free of any hint of accountability for everything he had gone through.
I can name people whom I choose to forgive but still feel hurt or bitterness towards (it's a process). But to come to the level wherein you could see this person that has hurt you and understand that God used this person to bring you to a higher level of blessings...now that's FAITH.
I believe that it is faith and revelation that could only come from being in an intimate relationship with God. In Joseph's darkest hours, God was with Him. How close can you get? Sometimes, when you get close to people, you understand their perspective. I believe Joseph was able to see his brothers through God's eyes.
My prayer today is to see people the way Joseph saw his brothers. I pray that when I see people who have hurt me, offended me, or did any harm against me that I could totally forgive them, set them free in my heart and most of all love them because God used these people for us to become the person we were meant to be.
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