How do we feel about or respond to those who have treated us harshly? I'm guessing few if any reading this have experienced being thrown in an empty well by siblings or been sold as slaves to traders from a foreign land. The majority of us can be offended and angered by much less. Joseph's brothers had purposefully abandoned, rejected and betrayed him and yet we see no retaliation from his heart. Joseph never minimized the evil done to him, but he saw it all in a larger context under God's guiding hand.
His brothers have now returned to Egypt and the great reveal has occurred. They have been reunited and Joseph has had opportunity to share how God had been actively working to bring them to this very moment of reconciliation, providing resources and healing relationships.
Upon hearing about the reunion of this family, Pharaoh blesses the brothers. I doubt that Pharaoh has ever heard the chain of events that brought Joseph to the palace. Joseph's response of seeing the Lord's hand over each step indicates to me that he viewed his brothers as the instruments and not the initiators of all that has happened. And now, because of their blood relationship with Joseph, Pharaoh gifts them provisions and the best of all the land.
Like Joseph's brothers, we have acted in ways that deserve condemnation. We have spoken unkind words that have cast hearts into pits of despair or shared a confidential trust, selling a loved one out through a "prayer request" of gossip. We are more like the brothers than we care to admit, but like Joseph's brother's we have a blood relationship with One who grants our pardon, and instead of treating us as our sins deserve, returns to us blessings (Ps 103:10). Just as Pharaoh showered Joseph's family with the best of all available to him, God's word is filled with abundant blessings that are ours, not because we are worthy, but because of His Son's blood shed on a cross setting us free.
If we know Christ as our Lord and Saviour, every sin past, present and future has been washed in the blood of Jesus. Where we should be met with punishment, God not only brings forgiveness but blessings. And, it's not mediocre blessings, but the best that He has. "He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
Wherever we are today, look around. Because of Christ we are blessed by blood. Our personal relationship with Jesus yields dividends for "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Cor 9:8)
My humbled heart is lifting a prayer of praise.
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