When we have been hurt by someone it is difficult to find forgiveness in our heart, especially when the person that has hurt us is someone that we are close too. Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers and sold to some Ishmaelites heading into Egypt, because of their jealous hearts toward him. Joseph became second in command over all of Egypt and was in control of all the food that had been put in storage in preparation for a 7 year famine that God had revealed to him.
Eventually the famine affected Joseph’s family in the land of Canaan. Jacob, Joseph’s father, sent Joseph’s brothers into Egypt to buy food. Joseph saw his brothers and eventually revealed himself to them. His brothers were no doubt fearful due to the great power that joseph had in Egypt and knowing their own hearts, would have probably done harm to themselves had the situation been reversed.
Joseph however, had a godly perspective of the circumstances, Genesis 45:5-8 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Emphasis added)
Joseph’s perspective was that all that had happened to him was in the plan of God. He was not only not bitter towards his brothers or God, but grateful that the Lord was working though his trials to save his family.I marvel at Joseph’s attitude.
Most times when people do us wrong we desire revenge, or at the least an opportunity to get restitution. Sometimes we may even be bitter against God for our circumstances and wonder why He hasn’t taken action on our behalf. Do we even consider that the hurt someone has inflicted upon us is in the will of God? Could it be that God is doing a work in our afflictions in order to help the very persons that have hurt us?
Trusting the Lord in the midst of difficult circumstances is not easy, but it is the right thing to do. Our godly response to our pain could save the ones that have hurt us the most. Jesus’ words are a hard truth in hard situations, Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Has someone hurt you deeply? Pray for them, chose to forgive them and see what the Lord will do. It could be you will have a part in helping them in the long run. Remember, it wasn’t them, but God!