January 13, 2010 12:17 PM
Sam wrote:
Playing a little 'game', was he? Now, Joe COULDA simply wept and hugged his brothers when they first came to Egypt. But NO.....he had to play his little game. He put his brothers in prison, scared the living daylights out of them, and even grieved his own father even more by making all but one of his brothers return to Jacob and get Benjamin. Why would he do this? Personally, I think it was a wicked way to teach his brothers a lesson, even though, as he even said himself, it was GOD's plan, not theirs. God DOES love weird people. (Probably a good thing, as we are all a bit whacko at times.)
But I found Joseph's actions a bit revengeful, and although he had every reason to be that way, I don't think it was right. I think he should have immediately let his brothers know that he forgave them for their actions many years ago.
How about you. Are you holding back forgiveness for someone? Are you acting like Joseph and treating people wrongly, instead of completely forgiving them for something they might have done to/against you in the past? If so, I say 'stop'! Contact that person NOW and tell them that they are forgiven, WHATEVER it is they did.
I don't think this 'lesson' that I learned from my reading these chapters this time has probably ever been preached before. Most people looked up to Joseph and down at his brothers for all they had done. But I don't think that is what Jesus would like us to be doing.....LOVE your enemies, He says. Yes, a good lesson I think, today. Reply to this
Playing a little 'game', was he? Now, Joe COULDA simply wept and hugged his brothers when they first came to Egypt. But NO.....he had to play his little game. He put his brothers in prison, scared the living daylights out of them, and even grieved his own father even more by making all but one of his brothers return to Jacob and get Benjamin. Why would he do this? Personally, I think it was a wicked way to teach his brothers a lesson, even though, as he even said himself, it was GOD's plan, not theirs. God DOES love weird people. (Probably a good thing, as we are all a bit whacko at times.)
But I found Joseph's actions a bit revengeful, and although he had every reason to be that way, I don't think it was right. I think he should have immediately let his brothers know that he forgave them for their actions many years ago.
How about you. Are you holding back forgiveness for someone? Are you acting like Joseph and treating people wrongly, instead of completely forgiving them for something they might have done to/against you in the past? If so, I say 'stop'! Contact that person NOW and tell them that they are forgiven, WHATEVER it is they did.
I don't think this 'lesson' that I learned from my reading these chapters this time has probably ever been preached before. Most people looked up to Joseph and down at his brothers for all they had done. But I don't think that is what Jesus would like us to be doing.....LOVE your enemies, He says. Yes, a good lesson I think, today.
Reply to this