Genesis 50:1-26: You Can Forgive and Move On

Introduction

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/27/1076140207/idaho-man-says-he-completed-his-goal-of-breaking-52-world-records-in-a-single-ye - A man living life by a book…

Over the last year - we’ve studied ONE book - Genesis - The start of an entire collection of books that make up one book: the Bible.

This opening book has set the stage… Taught us that God is a powerful creator who desires a relationship with the people He created. This book has taught us of our sinfulness...

This opening book has pointed us to our need for a Savior…

When we know the book, we can know the God who loves us, and we can live in the way He has called us to.

God’s way is the way of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. But, we struggle most to live His way in the context of our relationships with other people. Love, compassion, mercy, and grace is hard to give when people hurt us.

Gen. 50 - One final confrontation with Joseph’s brothers who had hurt him severely. In this final conversation, Joseph forgives.

Two questions I want to answer from this story: 1. Why can I forgive people who hurt me? 2. How can I forgive people who hurt me?

Why can I forgive people who hurt me?

Jacob’s dying request… to be buried with his ancestors… In the same cave where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah buried. Remember the piece of land Abe bought in Canaan? (Gen. 23) Abe laid claim on the land believing that one day it would all be his.

After making the request, Jacob died. Joseph weeps, has him embalmed, and makes the journey to the cave of his ancestors. vs. 7 - Note the caravan of people that went with Joseph. Vs. 9 - “It was a very impressive procession.”

The patriarch was gone. What would happen to the family? As they lay Jacob’s body to rest, as if Jacob is saying to his sons in his death: "You don’t belong in Egypt. Don’t let our family get comfortable in Egypt.”

After mourning, Joseph’s brothers concerned. What would Joseph do to them now that their father was dead? Jacob was the glue that held the family together. Perhaps Jacob kept Joseph from causing his brothers to suffer for all the wrong they had done to him. After all, how could Jacob harm his brothers with his father still alive? Now… Joseph can finally get revenge.

Brothers send a message to Joseph. Too scared to come to him themselves: “Your father told us to tell you to forgive us...” (Did Jacob really tell them that? Maybe so, or maybe they’re just scared of Joseph. What would the second most powerful man in Egypt do to them?)

Joseph weeps over the message. Remember Gen. 45? Joseph told his brothers he didn’t hold their sins against him against them. BUT… his brothers didn’t believe him.

Two powerful statements by Joseph:

1. “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” (vs. 19) Whenever you judge people to condemn them or try to get even with people, you are putting yourself in the place of God. You are not the judge! How much trouble comes in your life when you try to put yourself in the place of God?

2. “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result - the survival of many people.” (vs. 20) Until Christ returns, we will live in an evil world. While the world seems to be out of control, God is never out of control. God’s plan WILL NOT FAIL. If God’s plan cannot fail, you cannot lose, no matter how bad you’ve been hurt. People can hurt you, but any hurt you experience in this life is temporary.

Brothers couldn’t believe that Joseph would forgive them… BUT… they didn’t know God like Jospeh did. When you know God, you can forgive.

Real forgiveness is quite unbelievable - The way of the world isn’t forgiveness, it’s revenge. It’s hurt those who hurt you. It’s hold on to bitterness. Real forgiveness is a miracle…

https://www.npr.org/2022/01/25/1075558463/a-veteran-won-a-4-million-lottery-prize-using-the-numbers-from-a-fortune-cookie (Unbelievable… You see a really wealthy guy… How did you get so wealthy? Played my fortune cookie numbers in the lottery…)

Why can you forgive people who hurt you?

We can forgive because of God’s goodness.

God endures with His people. Joseph is the only man of character in the story. In fact, Joseph is the only major character in Genesis whose flaws we don’t see. Noah had flaws. Abraham had flaws. Isaac had flaws. Jacob had lots of flaws. Simeon, Levi, Rueben, and Judah had lots of flaws. But… God didn’t disqualify His people from His promises. He endured. He endures with you. You are highly flawed, yet God still loves you, and God still works in your life.

God is gracious with His people. God is the God of second chances. Even at our worst, when we cry out to God, He gives us another chance. (Judah)

God forgives His people. He doesn’t hold the sins of His people against them.

God is faithful to His people. This is what Joseph knew! He saw God’s plan to save His people in action!

If God has been good to you, who are you not to be good to others? If God endures with you, is gracious with you, and is faithful to you, who are you not to be gracious to others? Ultimately, who are you not to forgive when you’ve been forgiven?

We can forgive because of God’s promise.

End of his life, Joseph to his brothers: “God will come to your aid...” Egypt not the end of their story. “When God comes to your aid, carry my bones up from here. Take me to Canaan.”

Joseph knew that Egypt was not the end of his story… He was just a part of the plan to rescue the people of God. Egypt was not the end of the story of his ancestors.

Joseph died clinging to the same promise Jacob clung to: the promise of a great nation in the Promised Land.

Your hurt is not the end of your story because this life is not the end of your story. Being forever in His presence is the promise you’re holding on to.

If your hurt is not the end of your story, you have no reason to repay evil for evil. Why dish out to someone what God is going to ultimately destroy? God has promised you eternity.

If God has given you His best, why would you give someone your worst?

When your eyes are on what’s best, you can give people your best.

The Gospel: When Jesus was on this earth, this earth gave Him its worst. But, He gave this world His best: His life. Why? Focused on the promise of the Father to redeem a broken world for His glory. On the cross, able to look at people who wronged Him and say, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they’re doing.” Then, breathed His last, died for sinful people, then rose again.

My friend, you look a lot like Jesus when you look at others and say, “Even though you have hurt me severely, I forgive you...”

How can I forgive people who hurt me?

It’s hard… even as children our desire is to hold on to bitterness… as we grow older… it gets worse. Not forgiving boy who stole my swatch… To seeing spouses not being able to forgive, friends parting ways, etc.

Always remember how much you have been forgiven. Who are you to not forgive when you’ve been forgiven much? To NOT forgive is the height of ARROGANCE. It’s saying to someone else, “I deserve forgiveness, but you don’t...”

Confess your anger and bitterness. Uncontrolled anger and bitterness will always hinder your ability to forgive. Bring it before God and ask Him to forgive you of your grudges.

Live as a dead man. Gal. 2:20 - Your desire: to get revenge, to repay evil for evil, etc. But, your desires have been crucified. “I have the right to be bitter...” No you don’t. You died to yourself. You are alive to the desires of Jesus. The desire of Jesus: to forgive. How many times? 70x7. (Matthew 18:21-22)

Initiate the conversation. Don’t wait for the person who hurt you to come apologize to you. They may never apologize! Or, they might not even know that they hurt you, and if you just initiated the conversation, you may be surprised at how open that person is to acknowledging how they hurt you.

Don’t expect things to go back to normal. Forgiveness = “I’m not going to hold your sin against you. I don’t judge you.” Forgiveness begins the process of rebuilding a relationship - opens the door to reconciliation. But, reconciliation requires rebuilding trust. Reconciliation is a mutual effort, and sometimes that person you forgave may not want reconciliation. Or, in an abusive situation, unwise for things to go back to what they were. BUT, You can still forgive. You can still say, “I don’t hold it against you...” You can pray for that person who hurt you and desire the best for that person.

Remain gracious and compassionate. Hurting people hurt people. You might not know what happened in that person’s life who hurt you. How can you bless the person who hurt you? How can you give the benefit of the doubt? How can you keep an open door of communication so the relationship might grow again?

Don’t keep bringing up the past. Hebrews 8:12. God forgets nothing, but He treats us as if it’s forgotten. Don’t say, “I forgive you, but I’ll never forget what you’ve done.” That’s not forgiveness! That’s holding on to a grudge. Forgiveness is that I treat you as if it’s forgotten. Forgiveness is wiping the slate clean and beginning the process of rebuilding a relationship.

Put the relationship in God’s hands. That’s always the best you can do - ask God to make the relationship into what He wants it to be.

What about you? Have you experienced the free gift of the forgiveness of a Savior? Today, experience His forgiveness by confessing your sins to Him in repentance and turn to Him by faith.

Follower of Jesus: Who is God calling you to forgive? Who is that person who’s hurt you that you have a bitter heart towards? Confess your bitterness to God, and take a step towards forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gracious gift you can give, and every time you forgive, you’re able to to open a door to a conversation about the One who gives ultimate forgiveness. Your steps toward forgiveness opens the door for Gospel conversations.