Before we look at this next part of Joseph's story, let's think back to last Friday's lesson. Jacob was preparing to meet his brother Esau, loading up all sorts of gifts in order to sweeten his apology. And yet, it was Esau, the brother who was most wronged, who ran to Jacob and embraced him.
It is similar to Jesus' story of the Prodigal Son. The Son was returning home and rehearsing his speech, asking his father for a job as one of the hired hands. And while he was still a long way off, the father ran to him and embraced him.
In a yet another similar move, Joseph does the same thing. He doesn't wait for his brothers to discover who he is and to make their confessions or to beg for forgiveness. Instead, in one move, he not only reveals his identity, but he begins the process of reconciliation and forgiveness, pointing out how God used the situation for good.
Is there someone who has wronged you? Are you waiting for them to come to their senses and apologize? Perhaps that's not the biblical model at all... perhaps you should go to them and offer them grace and forgiveness. After all, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. When we were unable to reach out to Him, He reached out for us and called us by name.
He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred;
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv'n He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me;
With tender hand He lifted me.
From shades of night to planes of light--
O praise His name--He lifted me!
- Charles H. Gabriel
Before my sinful heart was stirred;
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv'n He lifted me.
From sinking sand He lifted me;
With tender hand He lifted me.
From shades of night to planes of light--
O praise His name--He lifted me!
- Charles H. Gabriel
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