Joseph; Great Man of Forgiveness (5-27-2020)

Text: Genesis 50.15-21(cf. 45.1-14) Title: “Joseph: A Great Man of Forgiveness” Topic: Forgiveness Series: “Great Men of Genesis” Occasion: Weds 5-27-2020, First FWB Church Duncanville Introduction: Series Overview: Enoch – A Great Man of Devotion Noah – A Great Man of Obedience Abraham – A Great Man of Faith Isaac – A Great Man of Prayer Jacob – A Great Man of Perseverance Tonight we will conclude this series by looking at Joseph. What was it about Joseph that made him a great man? I. Joseph Was a Great Man of Forgiveness Most of us are familiar with the story of Joseph. How his brothers were jealous of him because of their father’s favoritism toward Joseph. How they sold him into slavery and then told their father he had been killed. How he was made a slave in Egypt. How he was falsely accused by Potipher’s wife and then thrown into prison. And how, after languishing in prison, he rose to be Pharaoh’s right hand man. But we forget the most important part of the story, its conclusion. It is the conclusion of the story where we learn what it about Joseph that makes him worthy of being called a great man. Reading of Text: Gen 50.15-21. What made Joseph a great man was his forgiveness. II. What Does It Mean to Forgive? The Hebrew word translated to forgive is נָשָׂא which means literally to take away. The idea is that forgiveness is the taking away of one’s guilt. Forgiveness is not saying that no wrong was committed. Joseph knew only too well the pain he (and others) had suffered as a result of his brother’s actions. And notice his brothers confessed rather than denied their wrong doing. Confession is often a prerequisite of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the acknowledgment of the wrong suffered but a taking away of the guilt / consequences of that wrong. Joseph had the power to punish his brothers for the way they had treated him, but forgiveness meant taking away the possibility of retribution. III. Why Does It Take A Great Man to Forgive? In the Feb 23, 2001 edition of the Financial Post, published out of Toronto, a man took out an ad seeking employment. I want to read the ad to you, and as I do, I want you to think about this question: “Would you hire this man?” The headline of the ad said, “Employment Wanted, Former Marijuana Smuggler.” Here’s the text: “ Having successfully completed a ten-year sentence, incident-free, for importing 75-tons of marijuana into the United States, I am now seeking a legal and legitimate means to support myself and family. Business Experience: Owned and operated a successful fishing business, multi-vessel, one airplane, one island and processing facility. Simultaneously owned and operated a fleet of tractor-trailer trucks conducting business in the Western United States. During this time, I also co-owned and participated in the executive level management of 120 people world-wide in a successful pot smuggling venture with revenues in excess of 100 million annually. I took responsibility for my actions and received a ten-year sentence in the United States, while others walked free for their cooperation. Attributes: I am an expert in all levels of security. I have extensive computer skills, am personable, outgoing, well educated, reliable, clean and sober. I have spoken in schools, to thousands of kids and parent groups over the past ten years on “The consequences of choice” and received public recognition from the RCMP for community service. I am well-traveled and speak English, French and Spanish. References available from friends, family, the U.S. District Attorney, etc. (SOURCE: http://www.freshsermonillustrations.net) Would you give this man a job? I like to think of myself as a forgiving person, and as one who gives people second chances. But, honestly, even though I know this man paid his debt to society, I probably would pass on him. Why? Because to forgive him and give him a job would entail me taking a huge risk on him. There is always the possibility that the person we forgive will hurt us again. Why does it take a real man to forgive? Because forgiveness takes COURAGE! Forgiveness is a much more courageous act than keeping a grudge or seeking vengeance. Jacob had no guarantee that his brother at some point would not sell him down the river again. But he had courage, courage enough to take a chance on them and forgive them. IV. Why Forgive? A. Because Forgiveness Honors Our Father (vv.16-17) Your father left these instructions before he died: …. I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly Gen 50.16-17 Joseph understood that forgiveness was the wish of his Father. If he were to honor hos father then he had to forgive his brothers. One of the greatest stories of forgiveness in the New Testament is the parable of the prodigal son. This lad had dishonored his father by asking for his inheritance, and then ran off to a faraway land where he squandered it all away. Eventually as he is starving he decides to return home where his father is waiting and welcomes him with open arms and kills the fattened calf to celebrate his return. Do you recall the end of that story? The prodigal’s brother comes in to see the celebration and becomes angry over the fuss that is being made over the return of his irresponsible brother. Apparently, this brother thinks that it would have served the prodigal right to have been treated as a servant. How disappointed the Father must have been as he tried to explain to his son why it was right to celebrate the return of his brother. How disappointed he must have been that his son was not as loving and forgiving as he was. Wouldn’t have been a great honor to the father if the son had come in and like his father had welcomed, forgiven, and celebrated the return of his wayward brother! Our heavenly father is forgiving God – our hope of salvation, and our adoption as sons rests on that fact! What a dishonor to our Heavenly father when as his sons we refuse to forgive! B. Because Forgiveness Is Beneficial to Us (v.17) Joseph weeps when he forgives his brothers. This is not a sign of weakness or sentimentality. His weeping is the result of a great emotional release. Just imagine all the pain, anger, bitterness, sadness, grief, misery, hurt, etc. Joseph must have held in his heart through the years. When he forgives his brothers, he is let go of all of that, and that healthy emotional release is expressed by his tears. Forgiveness is beneficial to us because it allows us to let go of all the pain, anger, bitterness, sadness, grief, misery, and hurt that we bottle up inside us. The bottling up of those feelings and emotions have been linked to severe physical and emotional disease. A study conducted by the University of Michigan and partly funded by the National Institutes of Health determined that there are positive physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits to forgiveness. The study suggested that people who forgive reported decreased psychological distress, including fewer feelings of restlessness, hopelessness, and nervousness. They also were more likely to be satisfied with their lives. (SOURCE: http://www.freshsermonillustrations.net) Fred Luskin, a psychologist from Stanford University says, “Holding on to hurts and nursing grudges wears you down physically and emotionally. Forgiving someone can be a powerful antidote.” If the guy you are withholding forgiveness is as big of a jerk as you think he is, then he could care less if you’re mad at him. Your spite isn’t affecting him at all. Think about it a minute. Am I right? Luskin continues “Forgiveness isn’t about condoning what happened, It is about breaking free from the person who wronged us.” (SOURCE: Reader’s Digest, March 2002, p. 173) C. Because Judgment and Vengeance Are the Lord’s Prerogatives (v.18) Joseph asks “Am I in the place of God?” That was his way of saying “Who am I to judge or punish you?” I am not God and judgment and vengeance are his prerogatives.” Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Lev 19.18. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord Rom 12.19. D. Because God Is in Control (v.19) Joseph recognized that although his brothers had intended him harm, God is in control and he had used the pain Joseph had suffered to bring about good for Joseph and his E. Because Forgiveness Is the Only Way to Restore the Broken Relationship (v.20) The story ends with Joseph reassuring his brothers, telling them that he will provide for them and their children. This points to a healing of the breach that had been created in the family as a result of his brothers wrong doing. The family relationship was restored because of Joseph’s willingness to forgive. As Christians We have further reasons to Forgive: F. Because We Want to Be Obedient to Christ’s Commands Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matt 18.21-22 G. Because We Are Sinners Who Are Need of Forgiveness Lord’s Prayer: Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us Matt. 6.12 Our Forgiveness is Tied to Our Willingness to Forgive Others For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matt 6.14-15 H. Because Christ Forgave Us Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you Eph 4.32 Conclusion: The church today is in trying times. She needs God to raise up some great men like those we have discussed these past few weeks. How the church needs… Great men of devotion Great men of obedience Great men of faith Great men of prayer Great men of perseverance And great men of forgiveness!