Total restoration

This week we've read how Joseph forgave his brothers and welcomed them back into the family. But he didn't offer token forgiveness then step back from the situation. No: he welcomed them back into relationship. How? Well, he was thinking ahead. His brothers would have been terrified of returning to their dad to let him know that Joseph was still alive and that they'd been deceiving him for 22 years.

Joseph was thinking ahead. His brothers would have been terrified to return to their dad to tell him that Joseph was still alive and that they'd been deceiving him for 22 years. Joseph told them: '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 ... I will provide for you"' (Genesis 45:9-11 NKJV). Rather than saying, 'Go confess your mess to dad,' Joseph said, 'Let him know I'm still alive, then come back with him and I'll care for you all.'

This was immensely wise for two reasons. (1) Downloading guilt onto someone who can't handle it is not what God means when he tells us to confess. There's wisdom in knowing who to confess to, and how to do it. (2) It brought the forgiveness home. Where his brothers expected blood and vengeance, they got a warm invitation to be near to the brother they'd wronged. Joseph gave them an open door to full reconciliation..



So what now? If you've forgiven someone over the past few days, can you now go further and restore that relationship? See if you can meet up over lunch or dinner.





— SCRIPTURE —

'You shall be near to me... I will provide for you.' Genesis 45:10-11 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

1 Pet 1-5, Matt 10:21-31, Ps 18:1-29, Pro 12:23-24