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Seven Sides of Forgiveness
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The Life of Joseph, a Type of Christ
(Genesis 45:1-10; 50:15-21)
Of the many types of Christ in the Old Testament, Joseph stands out as a grand example of the plan of salvation. One of the greatest themes is his example of Christ-like forgiveness. The way he treated his family exemplifies the forgiveness of God towards us and how we should forgive others. Perhaps this reveals the best side of Joseph and why God could use him so mightily as a channel of prosperity for the people of God.
- Joseph had a heart to forgive.
Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
Genesis 45:1-3
- He made them feel comfortable.
And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.”
Genesis 45:4
- He encouraged them not to feel guilty.
“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here;…”
Genesis 45:5a
“…for God sent me before you to preserve life.
“For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
“And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
Genesis 45:5b-7
- He assured them of God’s good hand in the matter.
“So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 45:8
- He silenced their greatest fear—exposure.
“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.
“You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.
“There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.”’
“And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
“So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
Genesis 45:9-13
- He never went back on his forgiveness.
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.”
So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying,
‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
“Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:15-21
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