/And the brothers of Joseph saw that their father was dead, and they
said, "What if has animosity toward us and returns to us for all the
evil which we did to him?" They commanded Joseph, saying, "Your father
ordered, before he died, saying,'So, you will say to Joseph, "Please
pardon, please--the rebellion of your brothers and their sin that they
did evil to you."' And now, forgive please, the transgression of the
slaves of the God of your father." And Joseph cried in their words to
him. And they walked also, his brothers, and fell before him and said,
"Look, to you (we are) slaves." And Joseph said to them, "Fear not, for
in God's place am I? And you, yourselves intended for me evil; God
intended for good in order to do, as this day, to keep alive many
people. And then, fear not, I myself will feed you and your little
ones." And he gave comfort to then and he spoke upon their heart./
Why does a good, indeed a "perfect" God allow bad, even "evil" things to
happen? Each person, at one time or another, asks this question. Usually
during a time of great tragedy, or tremendous suffering, we want to know
the reason that God allows such trying times. Today, through the mouth
of Joseph, we get the very best answer of all to this question. What
people intend for evil, God intends for good! You see, God just loves to
take the most difficult situation and use it for good!
That's what the Lord did in Joseph's day. You remember his plight: his
jealous brother threw him in a pit, then faked his death, and sold him
into slavery. Pretty nasty treatment for your brother! Things looked
pretty bleak for Joseph. Lots of suffering, and little hope on the
horizon. Satan seemed to be having his hay-day. But that's when Yahweh
had the devil just where he wanted him. Satan drove a wedge between
believing brothers, but God would use it to bring them together & save
them all!
That's just what God did in Jesus' day too. Things looked very bleak for
that preaching carpenter from Nazareth. His family thought He was out to
lunch, and His best friends abandoned Him when He seemed to need them
the most; one denied even knowing Him, another betrayed Him. The devil
seemed to have the game in hand. But God had Satan just where He wanted
him, using his evil works for the very salvation of all mankind, and to
bring us together again as brothers in Christ!
Joseph's brothers knew that they had every reason to fear the worst.
Even though they were short-changed of their father's love in Jacob's
favoritism of Joseph; even though Joseph was a braggart, boasting of his
dreams; even though Joseph was a tattle-tale to his daddy over his
brothers' mistakes--none of this warranted faking Joseph's death or
selling him into slavery as his brothers had done. Sure there were
faults on both sides, but his brothers shared much of the fault.
So they come up with a plan to beg for Joseph's forgiveness. They tell
him that their dead father would have wanted Joseph to forgive them, in
fact, they tell their brother that Daddy commanded it! Really, they have
no place to turn but to the patriarch of God's promise. But Joseph holds
no bitter grudge as many would in his situation. Instead, he readily
forgives them completely. He realizes that the God of Promises has
already promised forgiveness for everyone, some day, so Joseph forgives.
But you and I know about that "some day" which has already arrived in
Christ Jesus. That day was Good Friday, where Jesus willingly died on
the + to save you from your sins, and their wages of death. On that day,
the Promise was fulfilled, as Jesus boldly declared, "Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do." Jesus offers the very pardon of
God the Father for the sins of the whole world, including yours! Your
pastor stands in the place of God to forgive you all your sins, absolutely.
And the great thing about this wonderful Pardon which Jesus brings is
that it restores our fellowship with one another. As we come to the
Lord's Table to eat His body & drink His blood, He is there to forgive
each & every one of us. Our brother Jesus makes us all brothers in Him
by feeding us the same gifts from the +. We are blessed with Jesus to
claim the same heavenly Father now, and to trust in the Promise of the
Father who has saved us in Christ Jesus, our Lord!
So as you have been forgiven, so too do you forgive others readily, and
joyfully, just as Joseph did. You no longer hold grudges, for God has
removed all your sins, including any animosity you had for your brother
in Christ. Christ Jesus has set you free from your sins. By forgiveness,
Jesus has set you free now to forgive others with His Own loving pardon.
Even with the evil-ness of sins, God uses them for good by forgiving
them, and removing their guilt & punishment forevermore! Amen!
John C. Drosendahl, Pastor
[email protected]
