We read in 2 Corinthians 9:8, Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. (ISV)
The Lord assures us that He is able to make our lives overflow with every blessing in all areas of our lives. Sometimes, our circumstances may seem contrary to what the word of God promises. Remember that it is God’s word that can lift us up out of our situation so we can be in the place that the word of God assured us that we would be in.
A good example of such a person in the bible is the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. Joseph was in such an elevated position in Egypt that people from countries all around them came to Joseph to receive grain as there was famine in every other country around Egypt. At the same time Joseph’s father Jacob, and all his brothers had the money, but no grain to feed themselves and their families as the famine was so severe in the land of Canaan. There was such a contrast between the way Joseph lived in Egypt, when compared to the way his father and brothers lived in the land of Canaan.
If we were to compare this situation with our lives as believers, we will realize that Jesus Christ came into this world, and He completed His work for our salvation on the cross, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us. Therefore, if we as the church of Christ are still in want, it means that in some way we have failed to do some things that God requires of us to do so we too can experience that overflowing and abundant life.
Let us believe, and know for sure that Jesus is able to change any lack that could be there in our lives, no matter what they are. Generally, a man is not lacking only in physical and material things. For instance there may be a need for a food, accommodation, clothes or a vehicle. However, there are other emotional needs that a person may have deep inside their hearts. Even other family members may not understand or realize the deep seated problems, and needs that a person may have. The physical needs can be seen, but the needs of the heart people around us cannot perceive them. There are many who are hiding all the pain in their heart, and go around with a smile on their face. This is what we refer to as wearing a mask. This is so much like children wearing a smiley mask at a party or celebration, and no one really knows who is behind the masks. Remember that we have a God who is able to see deep inside and can meet our deepest desires and needs.
Jacob loved Joseph more
We read in Genesis 37:3, Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. (ESV)
Joseph was born to Jacob when he was old, and hence Jacob loved Joseph a lot. In order to express this special love for his son Jacob gave Joseph a richly ornamented robe.
Have you observed how when two people are close there will be some around them who will not like it, and will do all they can to split them up? That’s exactly what happened to the brothers of Joseph.
The brothers of Joseph hated Joseph
We read in Genesis 37:4, But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. (ESV)
The brothers of Joseph hated him because their father loved him more than he loved all of them and he also expressed this in a tangible way by gifting him the robe. I imagine that this hatred for Joseph must have been started by one brother, and before long all of them had ganged up against Joseph.
Hate is a dangerous emotion, and if we are not watchful, it can destroy us. The origin of hatred is not God, but the devil. God is a God of love, while hatred comes from Satan.
If we don’t deal with this hatred this is what will happen. We read about it in Proverbs 10:12, Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses. (GNB)
Hate will only bring trouble, but love on the other hand will forgive all offenses. There are people who like Joseph’s brothers will sow the seeds of hatred, and we must be cautious of such people. Hatred will always turn to enmity. Hatred doesn’t happen all at once, but grows gradually. That is why we must uproot it as soon as it props up.
Joseph had no idea that the hatred in his brothers was so intense because there was no way he could make out what was in their hearts. When Jacob asked Joseph to take food for his brothers who were in the fields watching over the flocks, he joyfully agreed to run the errand for his Dad.
Joseph goes to check on his brothers
We read in Genesis 37:14, His father told him, "Go and see if your brothers are safe and if the flock is all right; then come back and tell me." So his father sent him on his way from Hebron Valley. Joseph arrived at Shechem (GNB)
As Joseph approached his brothers, while he was a great distance away, his brothers identified him, and plotted to harm him.
If someone has hatred towards another, they will most certainly wait for an opportune time to do evil to that person.
The brothers sell Joseph to the Midianites
We read in Genesis 37:28, and when some Midianite traders came by, the brothers pulled Joseph out of the well and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. (GNB)
The brothers took Joseph, and sold him as a slave to the Midianite traders who passed by where they grazed their flock. Joseph was deprived of his expensive coat, he was already a young man without a mother, and now the brothers also separated Joseph from his father who doted over him. You can imagine the cries of Joseph as he pleaded with his brothers to not let him be sold to some strangers. His brothers did not care about Joseph’s feelings or his pathetic state because hatred had turned to enmity, and now they had come to the point of betrayal.
Betrayal is an expression of hatred, but the sad thing is it is done by someone who is really close to us. Let me explain it this way. Just imagine someone was stabbed in the back, and he turns around to see that the one who did it was one who was closest to him, the pain becomes so much more intense. That’s exactly how Joseph must have felt when he was handed over to strangers and sold away as a slave.
The pain Joseph underwent
Almost 20 years later when his brothers met Joseph as the ruler of Egypt, they recounted the incident, and said to each other in Genesis 42:21 ... we saw the great trouble he was in when he begged for help, but we would not listen. (GNB)
Notice how hatred had prevented the brothers from hearing his cries, and also stopped them from seeing his pathetic condition. That’s exactly what hatred and enmity does. It turns human beings into beasts.
Many years had gone by since Joseph was sold into slavery, but the pain never left Joseph. At least eight times it is mentioned that Joseph cried openly. Can you then imagine the many hours Joseph may have cried alone wondering why he had to go through all the pain and rejection for no fault of his? He lost his mother when he was young, his brothers hated him without a cause, they threw him into a pit and they sold him off into slavery to a far-away country.
There is a faulty understanding that men shouldn’t cry, but note how Joseph cried, and how Jesus Himself cried at the tomb of Lazarus.
Many have been hurt in the past, maybe even in their childhood, and they still continue to hold on to the pain, and some even cry over it. Every time these memories turn up, there are those who go through some physical or emotional trauma. No matter what our hurts are we can take them to Jesus and give Him all of your agonies. If you do not do that and allow the Lord heal these wounds, it will certainly affect your present relationships. Whenever the names of faces of someone appears before us and we twinge with pain, it means that we have not been healed.
Joseph’s amazing attitude towards his brothers
Though Joseph was hurt so badly by his brothers, this was Joseph’s words when he met them after many long years.
We read in Genesis 45:11, and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast. (GNB)
The above were the words of Joseph to his brothers who had been so cruel to him, and treated him with utter disrespect and hatred. Joseph told them that he would nourish them, and feed them for all the remaining years of famine that was still to be faced.
Think about it – Were Joseph’s brothers really worthy to be taken care of by Joseph after all that he had done to him? Remember that Joseph was not a slave now, but the second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt, and there were men under him who would do anything at his beck and call. Joseph could have dealt with all of his brothers severely, because they did not know who he was and they had literally fallen at his feet begging for mercy.
How was Joseph able to bear such hurts and betrayal from his brothers, and still give assurance to them that he would provide for them and nourish them? What made Joseph a person who did not take revenge, but a man who willingly forgave his brothers for all the wrong they had done to him?
If many of us got a chance like Joseph we’d hope we can get even with those who have hurt us or done evil to us.
This was not so with Joseph. We read his response to his brothers after they knew that the ruler standing before them was their brother Joseph in Genesis 45:5, “And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” (GNB)
Can you imagine the terrifying fear that the brothers would have been in when the revelation was made that the Egyptian ruler standing before them was their own brother Joseph whom they ill-treated and sold into slavery.
Joseph’s perception of his situation
There were two reasons why Joseph was able to do this.
Firstly, Joseph saw things from God’s divine perspective. The pain was real for Joseph, but he realized that God had sent him ahead to save lives. Hence, even when they meant his being sold into slavery for evil, God turned it over for their good.
It is human nature to see things from earthly perspective. We get upset when someone slanders us, does us wrong or treats us badly. However, God works in us so that He can change and transform us. Every evil that is aimed against us, God will turn it over for our good.
Secondly, Joseph was willing to forgive his brothers.
We can hear a lot about forgiveness and even talk about forgiveness, but unless the Lord helps us we cannot forgive others. Some people will glibly say that they have forgiven someone who wronged them, but not a day will go by when they don’t think about them, and the hurts they had caused. By doing so we keep them in a prominent place in our lives, and every time we hear their name or see them we will get agitated and disturbed.
There are five things that we should remember and hold on to regarding forgiveness.
1. Forgiving others is a choice and we must decide to do this. The choice to forgive or not to forgive is in our hands
2. Forgiveness is not about others, but about us. Forgiveness may or may not be good for the one who is forgiven, but it sure will be totally beneficial to the one who chooses to forgive.
3. Forgiveness is a process. It will not happen at one shot, but will take time to happen in its fullness. Some people will say, ‘I have forgiven but cannot forget.’ That kind of forgiveness is of no use.
4. Forgiving others is not easy, but we can do so with God’s help. Seek God’s help to forgive those who have wronged you.
5. Forgiving others is a gift we give ourselves.
Let me ask you a question. Are you still holding onto a grudge or hatred against someone who has hurt you or wronged you many years ago? Maybe you say you have forgiven them, but the hurt is deep and it still lingers on. Let’s tell God that we will forgive anyone who has spoken against us, or done evil to us from the depths of our heart, and will release that person and the hold they have on our lives. If we hold on to that hurt, and the person it will only be detrimental to us. Our unwillingness to forgive others will sometimes also cause some ailments in our lives.
Joseph did not take revenge, neither did he do his brothers harm, but instead he forgave them, nourished them, and did all he could to bless them.
We have a God who can heal our hurts. and we have a God who will help us to forgive others. Jesus understands all of our pain and hurts, and He will certainly heal us, and will certainly work out everything for our good.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
