The year was 1996. The US would post its first ambassador to Vietnam since the N Vietnamese took control of the south in 1975. President Clinton choose as his ambassador Pete Peterson, a former congressman and US AirForce pilot. Pete had been shot down over N Vietnam 31 years earlier and was a prisoner of war for 6 years. He was beaten and tortured for most of that time.
When he was shot down, he ejected and landed in a mango tree. He was badly injured with head injuries and broken bones. Local villagers dragged him out of the tree and paraded him through the nearby villages, while villagers spit on him, beat him and threw rocks at the badly injured man.
When Pete returned to Vietnam he went to the village where he was captured. We pick up the remainder of the story from the BBC news:
He drank tea with .......two of the men who had dragged him back to the village through the rice paddies. And he walked through the fields, holding hands with the grandson of one of his former captors, to the mango tree in which he had fallen 31 years earlier.
"I return here not to re-live what was probably the most unhappy day of my life, but to signify to the entire world that reconciliation is not only possible but absolutely the way to reach out."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21770163
Ambassador Peterson learned what many do not - that the only way to be free is to forgive.
JOSEPH provides this example in an even more profound way. The story is provided for us in Genesis 44 and 45. These chapters reveal the restoration of Joseph and his brothers, after the brothers return the second time to Egypt to buy food. After their first visit, Joseph required that they leave one brother, Simeon, in order for them to return to their father with the food they purchased in Egypt. The famine was severe and before long, Jacob and his sons needed more food. Jacob orders the brothers to return to Egypt for more food, but Judah refuses to go without taking Benjamin with them. Joseph had required this to test the brothers, but Jacob was fearful of losing his only connection to his cherished wife Rachel. Finally, after hearing Judah’s appeal, Jacob sends the brothers, with Benjamin back to Egypt for food.
Joseph knew that the brothers would return. This is why he kept Simeon - to ensure that they came back. Joseph questions them further concerning whether or not Jacob is still alive. Joseph is overwhelmed at the sight of his younger brother, Benjamin - the only other son of his mother Rachel. He prepares a great feast for the brothers, seating them in the exact order of their ages and giving extra portions to Benjamin. Finally, he sends them away but tells his servants to hide his personal royal cup in Benjamin’s sack of grain.
When the brothers are apprehended and returned to Egypt, Joseph is moved by the speech of Judah, a speech that demonstrates that the brothers are truly changed men. They could have easily allowed Benjamin to be taken back to Egypt to save their own skins, the same way that they sold Joseph years earlier. But this time they stick together and protect the honor of their father and the integrity of the family. They are no longer jealous quarrelers. They are unified brothers who recognize their wrong.
Through the story in Genesis 43-45, we see some valuable lessons about forgiveness.
I. Joseph Chose Forgiveness instead of Revenge.
Great injustices were committed against Joseph.
He was hated by his brothers,
sold as a slave
accused by Potiphar’s wife,
forgotten by the cup-bearer
Joseph’s youth was stolen from him. At age 17 he was taken from his family.
Joseph had EVERY OPPORTUNITY to retaliate against his brothers.
He was ANONYMOUS
He had POWER
He had OPPORTUNITY
But in spite of the excuses and opportunities, Joseph completely forgives his brothers. In fact, it is evident from the story that Joseph didn’t wait until his brothers arrived from Canaan for forgive them. He had done this long ago. In my opinion, he forgave them when he was 17 years old, seated on the back of a camel, taking a trip to Egypt as a slave of the men to whom he was sold by his brothers.
Joseph would not have been successful in Potophar’s house, in the prison or as second in command over Egypt if he were still bound by resentment and the desire for vindication. This episode with his brothers is the demonstration of his forgiveness. He had forgiven long ago.
II. Lessons from Joseph about Forgiveness
Forgiveness doesn’t seek to “settle the score.”
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else."
2. Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Forgiveness doesn’t say, “see I told you so.” Gen 43:26 shows that when the brothers returned to Egypt the second time for food, they “bowed down to him.” This is a fulfillment of the dream that Joseph had in Gen 37:6! I don’t think that Joseph forgot about this. I can imagine Joseph seeing his brothers bow before him. If that were me, I might be tempted to remind my brothers about the dream that I shared with them 22 years earlier! But Joseph resists such temptation.
Forgiveness recognizes God’s control over everything. Joseph is focused on on GOD,
not the offender. Notice Joseph’s explanation to his brothers about why all this happened to him.
Genesis 45:5 "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."
Genesis 45:7 "But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."
Genesis 45:8 "“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt."\
It’s not as if Joseph has forgotten that the brothers put him in the cistern, or sold him as a slave. He has not forgotten the false accusations of Potiphar’s wife, or the other injustices committed against him. Joseph’s freedom is based in the realization that even though terrible things happened to him, he does not need vindication because God was in control the entire time! This is truly liberating. It provides us with the assurance that our problems, injustices and sufferings are not meaningless things. God is always at work. Joseph knew that God put him in Egypt to save many. This was more important to him than exacting revenge on his brothers.
Forgiveness is the only restoration for broken relationships.
Judah gives a passionate speech indicating that the brothers had changed. We find it in Gen 44:18-34. Judah’s speech is very moving. He selflessly asks Joseph to release Benjamin and allow him to return to Jacob because of how much Jacob loves the boy. Judah offers to remain in Benjamin’s place - the exact opposite of what happened 22 years earlier. This speech is the longest speech recorded of any character in the entire book of Genesis! Jodah’s word’s move Joseph to tears and he joyfully and emotionally reveals himself to his brothers, causing great rejoicing throughout the land of Egypt.
Throughout this story, Joseph represents CHRIST. Note the powerful similarities
Both spend time in Egypt
Both were 30 when they entered their public phase of ministry. Gen 41:46
Both had two names! Joseph - his human name which in Hebrew means “Adding” (Gen 30:24). Zaphnath-Paaneah - (Gen 42:25) his Egyptian name meaning “Revealer of secrets.” His name indicates that Pharaoh recognized that GOD had given Joseph the ability to reveal secrets. We can say that this is Joseph’s divine name. In the same way, Jesus has two names - Jesus, his human name given by Mary’s husband, and Christ, his Divine title of deity.
Both are described as Shepherds
Joseph - a shepherd
Jesus - the Chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:4)
Both are a savior to all people. Genesis 41:57 "And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world."
But no doubt the chief reason why the life of Joseph is described with such fullness of detail is because almost everything in it typified something in connection with Christ. Arthur Walkington Pink, Gleanings in Genesis (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2005), 342.
The fullest and most striking of all OT Characters was Joseph, for between his history and that of Christ we may trace fully a hundred points of analogy! Arthur Walkington Pink, Gleanings in Genesis (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2005), 343.
By forgiving his brothers after so much injustice, Joseph shows us the way JESUS RESPONDS to US.
GOD HIMSELF provides the PICTURE for Forgiveness:
God blots out our sins as a thick cloud (Isaiah 44:22).
God forgets our sins and remembers them no more (Jeremiah 31:34).
God puts our sins behind His back (Isaiah 38:17).
God buries our sins in the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).
God removes our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Pritchard, Ray (2005-07-01). The Healing Power of Forgiveness: (pp. 19-20). Harvest House Publishers - A. Kindle Edition.
How does the FATHER do this? He looks at the CROSS instead of our sin
2 Peter 1:17 "For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”"
Colossians 2:14 "having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross."
III. How Can I forgive the painful hurts in my life and be free?
A. First, we rediscover the humanity of the person who hurt us. That simply means that without diminishing their sin, we admit they are sinners just like we are sinners.
B. Second, we surrender our right to get even. This is hard because it is natural to want someone else to pay for all the pain they caused us. But in the end, we must leave all judgment in the hands of our just and merciful God.
C. Third, we revise our feelings toward the other person. Pritchard, Ray (2005-07-01). The Healing Power of Forgiveness: (p. 25). Harvest House Publishers - A. Kindle Edition.
Forgiveness is not an event; forgiveness is a highway you walk every single day. Pritchard, Ray (2005-07-01). The Healing Power of Forgiveness: p. 98). Harvest House Publishers - A. Kindle Edition.
