Thomas has a “Brooks-point.” I notice over the holidays that our newest grandbaby has a cowlick on the back of his head that makes his hair come to a point in the middle of his neck. My dad always calls this feature a Brooks-point. Your family may call it a “Jones” point, for all I know. But every family has characteristics, physical and emotional. Does forgiveness run in your family?
Favoritism ran in Abraham’s family. It was more of a curse than a blessing as it impacted Jacob and Esau as well as Joseph and his brothers. Joseph had welcomed his brothers to Egypt during the famine, but when their father died, they concocted a story to convince Joseph not to harm them. Had they learned from their chicanery? They wondered if Joseph had really forgiven what he could not forget. Thankfully, God gave Joseph “50-20” vision. As Genesis 50:20 puts it, “You intended to harm me but God intended it for good . . .”
God used the brothers’ malevolent intentions in sending Joseph away to eventually save their lives and the lives of many others. This does not justify our bad decisions. But it does set forth the principle of God’s sovereignty. Paul would later tell the church in Rome, “God works all things together for good.” Truly, favoritism ran in Abraham’s family. But forgiveness did as well. Joseph and his brothers enjoyed a front row seat to their Uncle Esau’s forgiveness of their father Jacob.
As a boy, I watched my father forgive a family member who had harmed him. I never forgot it. In my memory, it may be the real “Brooks-point.” Even if forgiveness has not run in our families historically, we can start today. It turns out that our Father forgives. So may we, if we will. It runs in God’s family!
