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When hurt by others, is it easy to walk away or is there the desire to hurt back? In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” There is a word for what Jesus is telling us to do, it is long-suffering, which means sometimes we have to patiently accept a problem or hurt for a long period of time. The story of Joseph illustrates this fact very well.
As the favorite son of Jacob, Joseph was a spoiled and conceited adolescent. His attitude got him into trouble with his brothers who sold him into Egyptian slavery. The story of Joseph ends with him yielding humbly to God’s control, which resulted in him becoming a powerful leader in Egypt. Joseph’s story teaches that the circumstances of one’s life are not nearly as important as how one reacts to the events.
Each person is responsible for bringing misfortune into his or her life through foolishness. Jacob’s folly is seen in his huge errors in parenting. He favored one son over his other children, which produced the envy and hatred we read about in Genesis 37. As for Joseph, he was the man of dreams. His brothers called him “That dreamer.” The dreams Joseph boasted to his brothers about encouraged the hate they had for him. As a boy Joseph was boastful. As a man he no longer flaunted his status, nor when he was reunited with his brothers did he ever say, “I told you so.”
To forgive someone who has wronged us is not easy. The story of Joseph is about being forgiven and giving forgiveness. Little wonder the poet Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” With grace and nobility Joseph forgave his brothers. When Joseph at last revealed himself to his brothers he said, “You sold me; but God did send me” (Genesis 45:5). God used their wickedness to fulfill His will. It was apparent to Joseph God had worked His will through the men who had badly used him.
Joseph modeled genuine forgiveness. Through his brother’s unfaithfulness to him, he was kidnapped, rejected enslaved and imprisoned. Yet, he forgave and shared his wealth. This is how God forgives us. He showers us with his goodness even when we sin against Him.
Each time you kneel in prayer do two important things. Show gratitude to God for His forgiveness by thanking Him and when you request forgiveness from God, ask yourself if you have forgiven the people who have wronged you. Being thankful and savoring the forgiveness granted you through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, will help you to have the strength of character to demonstrate forgiveness to others.
Noni McVey
Editor in Chief
Mike was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1963. Mike grew up in the Greek Orthodox church and was first interested in the Church of God movement through a Plain Truth article at age 17. While in college Mike began to order literature from the Worldwide Church of God and the Church of God, International. In 1985 he graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Criminology. Mike was also baptized in 1985. Mike also has a master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. Mike now lives in Germantown, MD with his wife Shernet. His interests include exercise, volunteer work, reading and Bible study.
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