Grace Giver
“...You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20 ESV)
These words, declared late in life by Joseph (the one with the colorful coat), son of Jacob, are one of the most incredible statements in all of scripture. Joseph’s life was no cakewalk – he was abused, betrayed, and sold by his own jealous brothers. He was forced into slavery in Potiphar’s house, was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and unjustly imprisoned. He suffered from false promises, abandonment, disappointment, and some of the worst kinds of pain. Which leaves us to wonder, how in the world could he say God was good, in the midst of his pain? He somehow found a way to discover peace in God’s perfect provision and timing.
It is hard to imagine Joseph saying these words in front of his brothers who had caused him so much pain and harm. We live in a repay evil for evil world. He not only let them off the hook for their failures and hurt, but He gave glory to God in the process. The wild thing is that he had the opportunity to withhold kindness from his brothers – he could have literally let them starve to death, out of a spirit of vindictiveness and retribution. That is what you expect reading the story in Genesis 50. These words of forgiveness are quite radical, and they represent a heart of mercy.
Joseph wept when they spoke to him. “His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’ But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus, he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:17b-21 ESV) In a moment when Joseph could have handed his brothers retribution, he gave them grace. The end result of his forgiveness was that everyone won.
I pray that today, we would not just be receivers of grace, but givers of it as well, and that we would sense God’s protection and provision in the deepest and darkest times of our lives.
Expectantly,
Shawn
