How To Let Go of Resentment and Anger and Forgive

Introduction (5m)

Funny Airline Safety Briefing

Video: Funny Airline Safety Briefing - 2:00

Life Jacket one of the most important pieces of equipment

Preserve your life. Keep you afloat. Whistle, light to attract attention so you can be saved.

Explanation (5m)

Joseph Looks Beyond his Resentment and Anger to be a Life Jacket for his Brothers

Genesis 45:5 NLT

But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

The Family Context

Blended family. Joseph’s father, Jacob has at two wives, and at least two concubines.

Favourite = Rachel. Amongst 12 sons and who knows how many daughters, her son, Joseph is also his favourite.

Coat of many colours. 11 brothers sick of his arrogance. When Jacob sends him to check on their shepherding, resentment boils over. Beat some humility into him, but then decide to up ante and throw him into pit and then sell him to passing slave traders.

Cover up: dredge coat through animal blood and take it back to Jacob and tell him wild beasts have killed his favourite son.

Talk about dysfunctional!

But now in Egypt ...

A couple of decades later, and Joseph is a distant memory. Family suffering famine in their land, and Jacob sends sons to Egypt in last ditch attempt to save them.

High and mighty Egyptian official they beg for grain is Joseph himself!

Not just survived, but prospered.

Joseph has had plenty of time to brood, and for resentment and anger to build

Face to face, kneeling, faces prostrate to the ground, begging for food. He could do what he likes.

Could call palace guard, have them thrown in torture chambers to get what they deserve.

But instead, he chooses to see how God has used his brothers’ sin for his good

Genesis 45:8 NLT

So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

Sees fear and bewilderment, but shows them loving and forgiving heart.

Chooses to forgive and effect reconciliation. And that was only possible by his knowledge of God’s providential care through all he went through.

God had overruled their hateful attitude and cruel actions and worked it all out for good.

Not say that God excused their sin, but he can still accomplish his purposes through it.

Tells them not to be angry with themselves for what they had done! But invited them to see God’s hand in it too - how he had sent him ahead of them to save their lives.

Tears and joy. Confessions and admissions of guilt. Forgiveness reiterated. Kisses, weeping.

Application (5m)

What might strike you most about this story is just how unfair it is

Joseph’s life was changed for ever. Jacob mourned the loss of a son who was still alive. The brothers seem to get away with what they have done.

Joseph becoming his brothers’ life jacket, preserving their lives is the last thing we expect. Where’s the justice?

Story from Native Americans: boy comes to grandfather, full of anger because another child has done him an injustice.

Grandfather tells a story: I have felt hatred to those who have done me wrong, especially those who show no sorrow for what they have done.

But hatred wears you down, does nothing to hurt your enemy. Like taking poison and hoping your enemy will die. Struggled many times.

It’s as if two wolves inside of me: one good, does no harm. Lives in harmony, takes no offence. Only fight when right to do so, in the right way.

Other one full of anger. Slightest irritation > fit of rage. Fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. Cannot think clearly because anger, hatred overwhelming.

Hard to live with these two wolves - both want to dominate me.

Which one wins, grandpa?

The one I feed.

It’s not about justice, it’s about preserving your life and those around you

Forgiveness not easy. It acknowledges hurt and pain. But seeks to move on. Preserving and enhancing life.

What burden of anger and resentment are you carrying around with you today?

How long feeding it? Maybe its time to let it go. It’s probably causing you more pain and anguish than anyone else. Let go, and let God deal with it.

Next Steps

SB 850 - I then shall live as one who’s been forgiven

Stones and water

I then shall live as one who?s been forgiven. I?ll walk with joy to know my debts are paid. I know my name is clear before my Father;  I am his child and I am not afraid. So, greatly pardoned, I?ll forgive my brother; The law of love I gladly will obey. 2 I then shall live as one who?s learned compassion. I?ve been so loved, that I?ll risk loving too. I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges; I?ll dare to see another?s point of view. And when relationships demand commitment, Then I?ll be there to care and follow through. 3 Your Kingdom come around and through and in me; Your power and glory, let them shine through me. Your hallowed name, O may I bear with honour, And may your living Kingdom come in me. The Bread of Life, O may I share with honour, And may you feed a hungry world through me. William and Gloria Gaither © 1981 Gaither Music Company/Adm. by Integritymusic.com, a division of David C. Cook, [e-mail] For the UK & Ireland. Used by permission. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 135015 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 850