They’re Bound to Come Back

We’re still out and about…visiting different places and learning A LOT.

Today the pastor retold the story of Joseph…the one the musical is based on. You can read the account here.

One of the points in the message was this…the one that hurt you will be the very one to need you. To this he asked what would our response be to these individuals? This struck me deeply.

I’ve sat through many sermons and Sunday School lessons and Joseph’s revenge is normally skipped because in the end he did the right thing. Kind of like the part of the movie in Tyler Perry’s Diary of Mad Black Woman when the estranged wife gets even with the philandering husband but eventually did the right thing and showed him kindness.

Joseph framed his brothers with theft, imprisoned one of them and spoke very harshly to them.

But in the end, he forgave his brothers and confessed that what his brothers had meant for evil…God meant for good. God sent Joseph ahead of his family to “save much people alive.” (There was a terrible famine and Egypt was the only place where you could buy food…read the story…it’s really good.)

So how do you respond to the one who hurt you who now needs you?

Are you allowed to get even? Just a little bit? I think that’s why this part of the story is often bypassed because it deals with a real human response. He responded like most (not all) of us would if we were in a similar situation. It’s the ultimate I told you so. I think the fulfillment of Joseph’s God-given dreams was more than enough to humble the whole family.

I think Joseph’s heart condemned him and that was the reason for the loud weeping in the latter part of the story…purely speculation on my part because the bible does not give us a reason. . 

Again, how do you respond to the one who hurt you who now needs you?

Do you do the right thing and wait for your heart to catch up? Because it is possible to do the right thing and your heart be separate from the act. The Children of Israel were notorious for doing the right thing as far as fasts and sacrifices. Yet God loathed the offerings because their hearts were far from him.

So just how do you respond to the one who hurt you who now needs you?

I believe it boils down to forgiveness and seeing the situation illuminated through God’s plan and purpose. Joseph said it had to happen the way it did so that God could use me to save much people alive.

Maybe you’re not saving an entire nation from famine, but your forgiveness and doing the right thing does have impact. These are opportunities to show the grace and mercy of our God in every day life.

LORD this week, help us to forgive those who hurt us and now need us, help our hearts catch up to the good we may already be doing and thank you for using us to save much people alive.

Have a great week everyone.