But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? – Genesis 50:19
Jacob the patriarch is dead. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Jacob had lived a full life. Twelve sons and a daughter. He had the privilege of seeing his favorite son Joseph, who he thought had died, again. Not just see Joseph, but have the joy of seeing him doing very well in life despite all the troubles he went through.
And now Jacob died, after blessing each of his sons, including giving a double portion of blessing to Joseph’s sons. And that is exactly the reason why the brothers are scared now. With Jacob their father gone, there is nothing to stop Joseph from taking revenge, for all that they had done to him. But Joseph was able to forgive his brothers and not hold any bitterness in his heart. And that came from a place of love, God-given love.
Bitterness is like an acid, someone said, that only damages the container. Those who hold on to bitterness and unforgiveness, only make themselves sick at heart, sometimes even sick in the body. The only effective anecdote for bitterness is love.
As the Bible says in 1 Peter 4:8, above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. We love and forgive not because the other person deserves it. We love and forgive because we are loved and have been forgiven much. When we can look at others in this light, it is difficult to hold on to bitterness.
Is there someone against whom you have been harboring bitterness? Would you ask God for His grace to love and forgive that person today?
Lord, would you give me the grace to forgive, I pray.
Extended Reading – Genesis 48-50
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