Forgive Or Not Be Forgiven (Part 3) Series

Gen 50:20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,

NKJV

I have always loved this story. It deals with the guy who was wronged. There is something in us that says “life is not fair” What happen to Joseph was not fair and we want justice and we want it now! We can relate to this because majority of us have been wronged. And when this happens we want vengeance. We are brought up this way. We see it in movies, and in everyday life. We want to see the bad guy get what he deserves. That’s why when someone does us wrong we want to lash back at them with the same evilness. We have to take justice into our own hands. Joseph’s brothers envied him.

Gen 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. KJV

The brethren envied him because Joseph had big dreams. And his father seemed to have loved him more. He had great favor with the Father. And Joseph was not shy about letting his brothers know about it.

Prov 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (NIV)

The Bible says that envy rots the bones. It will eat you up. It’s like cancer. When you envy someone it will consume you. They become your target. They consume your thoughts and you have them on you mind constantly. Every time someone mentions their name the cancer that is eating you seems to flair up more and more with each thought of how they deserve the worst that hell has to offer them. Joseph’s brothers felt that Joseph had done them wrong and they were full of envy. In fact, they had gone past the talking about him and had moved into the actual doing something about it. It starting with just the thinking, then it went to the talking, then it lead to the doing something about it. Just like sin is progressive, so is envy, because it is sin.

Some brethren are envy of other brethren in the church because they are gifted with many talents and are being used by God in the church. Especially when we know things about this brother and we feel that He shouldn’t be allowed to minister because of what we know. How can Pastor even allow him to be in ministry? He doesn’t deserve to do what he’s doing! If only people really knew what he is really like? Then no one would ever use him. The amazing thing is that God does use him. God is not looking for perfect people to accomplish his purpose upon the earth. He will use people that have a heart and an ear to hear His voice and be obedient to His word and His will. Joseph kept his heart right with God despite of what his brothers did to him. He didn’t get bitter, He didn’t try to get vengeance, and He didn’t go around and slander his brothers and tell everyone what his brethren did to him. He kept his heart right with God.

Prov 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (NKJV)

God lifted Joseph to the place where He wanted him to be.

Jesus said forgive or not be forgiven. Joseph had the right perspective when it came to this. He understood that it was God that allowed him to go through what he had gone through. Man had meant it for evil but God had used it to help shape his life.

So when you’re having a hard time trying to forgive someone because they did you wrong, just remember that “God meant it for good.” And will in the end work things out for his purpose. We think sometimes that their going to get away with whatever the offence might have been. That is a fairy tale, because the bible says that Judgment will begin in the house of the Lord. Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Judgment belongs to only one person and that is Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience and it takes faith. Faith says that God is Just. He will never allow the unjust to go without justice. And when we do not forgive we say that God is not just.

When we forgive those who have done us wrong it illustrates the God that forgave the world of their sins and releases you from the bondage of hatred, bitterness and Satan’s control over your heart.

Jesus said forgive or not be forgiven. What He was really saying was, Hey buddy I forgave you for such a great offence you need to forgive your brethren of their offence.

Everyone has a great need to be forgiven. How about you?