Saturday, March 7, 2009

Today’s Passage: Genesis 43-44

The thought of repaying good for evil is difficult for anyone to do. In today’s passage, we see that Joseph was now in a position to where he could have very well taken all of his brother’s lives for any reason that he wanted. However, he spared his brothers and had forgiven them of the wrong they had done to him years earlier. It is one thing to forgive someone when they have wronged you, but it speaks even more when the extra mile is taken to help that person in their time of need.

When reading this passage, we learn the practical lesson of not repaying evil with more evil, but also taking a step back to see the larger picture, we can see God at work. There was a severe seven year famine that was hitting Egypt and God had purposefully placed Joseph in the position that he was in order to save the rest of Joseph’s family, of whom Benjamin was one of the brothers. I think it’s extremely difficult for us today to step back when someone has wronged us to attempt to see the bigger picture that God has in mind. For instance, maybe our kindness to the person who wronged us may lead them toward salvation.

I thought the story was rather interesting when Joseph tested his brothers. I mean, think with me for a moment. I was trying to think what was going on in Joseph’s mind when he was doing this. His brothers come from afar, not realizing who they were going to be asking food from. Then Joseph sends them out with an extra silver cup in their sacks, only to command one of his servants to track them down shortly after they left. It almost seemed that Joseph was trying to see whether or not his brothers had truly repented. We know that God was guiding Joseph, so we see here that he was being used by God to bring them to complete repentance. We see very clearly in the story when the servant who tracked them down and asked if they had it (the cup, all of the brothers said no. They said so in such confidence they went to the degree of saying that if found, the one who had it could be a servant of Joseph.

There is much that we can learn from today’s passage. Is there someone in your life that you have not forgiven for the wrong they have done to you? If so, you can do so today! God may desire to use you to help bring that other person to full repentance as well.