email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

January 16, 2019

Genesis 50:19-21

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

New International Version (NIV)

Do you fear retribution? Pay-back can be painful, to be sure. We may live our lives in fear, assuming that if certain people could harm us they would. It might be true. The person who said they forgave you might be waiting for the first chance to get you back. Or not.

                Joseph’s brothers were terrified after their father died. They reasoned that now their brother Joseph could exercise his power to harm them. They didn’t believe in forgiveness. So they lived in fear. Joseph’s brothers went to him and said, “Dad said you are supposed to forgive us. Now forgive us as servants of your father’s God.”

                Joseph’s response is priceless. “Don’t be afraid.” No need to fear! “Am I in the place of God?” Joseph knew that God alone would avenge wrongs. He did not sit in God’s chair of judgment against his brothers. “You meant it for harm, but God intended it for good.” Finally, he promised, “I will provide for you and your children.”

                On the day that Bob Goff’s daughter was born, he wrote her a note saying, “I forgive you for wrecking my car.” Then he buried it in a bottle. Sure enough when she was 18 she wrecked the family car. Bob did not give her a lecture, but a shovel. He showed her where to dig. Before long she entered the house with tears streaming down her cheeks: “You forgave me before I was born.”

                Our God has promised to forgive all who confess our sins to him. We can take him at his word. As Karl Barth wrote, “Every day we ought to begin, we may begin with the confession, 'I believe in the forgiveness of sins.'" Do you believe? God does! He is madly in love with you. Take him at his word.

Pray with me:

Father, forgive us for failing to believe in your forgiveness. Your kindness calls us to trust you. Today we take you at your word. We have no back-up plan for forgiveness. It is against you that we have sinned. If we deny it we deceive ourselves, but we can never fool you. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Let your kindness lead us to repentance today, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan. Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download
the app at readscripture.org. Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully,
Duane

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