PowerPoint - July 25, 2007

July 25, 2007

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

--Genesis 45:3-5, 15

In today’s passage, we see a wonderful biblical picture about the power of forgiveness.

Imagine, if you will, that you were one of Joseph’s brothers…one of the brothers who had sold him into slavery. If it were me, I’d think I was done for!

Joseph was now in an incredibly high position of power in Egypt. He could have done anything to these guys! He could have put them in jail or executed them on the spot.

But look at what Joseph says to his brothers: “Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (v. 5). And then, look at what happens in verse 15: “And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.”

What a reunion! What a restoration! Joseph embraces these brothers who betrayed him and welcomes them into his presence. He gives them the kiss of love and the kiss of life. Joseph’s example serves as a testimony to the power of God to forgive and the power that God gives us to enable us to forgive.

So I’d like to ask you, is there someone in your life who you need to extend forgiveness to today? Because if Joseph can forgive his brothers for what they did to him, you can also forgive…with God’s help!

god will give you the power to forgive.