We eye the evil face to face and we call it what it is. Only realists can be forgivers.-Lewis B. Smedes
To forgive we must remember differently.
This is the main point, of dare I say only point today.
The story of Joseph.
Found in Genesis 37-50 with an excursion back to Judah in chapter 38.
Joseph experienced awful things.
We cannot let this escape our attention.
Joseph suffered injustice.
The story of Potiphar’s wife is a prime example.
Joseph was forgotten.
After doing a kind deed and asking a simple request he was forgotten.
Which is true of you?
How are you like Joseph?
Yet, Joseph learned God’s power.
The choice could have been to accept bitterness and victimization and a victim identity. He could have just wasted away to nothing but this is not what we see.
Forgiveness allowed him to love others.
He was able to be kind and courteous when he could have sought justice and vengence.
He allowed God to redeem.
He had to allow God to redeem him, his past, and his brothers.
