Connecting Scriptures:

How do you view the betrayals in your past?  How do you view the struggles you have walked through?  When you think of all the hurt you’ve experienced, or the times you have felt alone or abandoned, or when you have been woefully wronged, what feelings spring up?  Are you filled with bitterness? Rage? Fear?  Are there people whom you still haven’t forgiven? People you avoid or who are “dead to you?”

We have all been hurt and betrayed by people we loved and trusted. And often that can influence the way we make decisions moving forward. Whether it is carrying bitterness and distrust into new relationships, or elevating a sense of “personal strength” and survival, our pains effect who we are and how we make decisions.  The ‘scars’ that give us character. There are two great men who can relate to us in this: Joseph and Jesus. 

Joseph

In our chapter today, we see Joseph finally, truly, reunited with his brothers. Mask off, pretense gone, and a lot of awkward tears.  If anyone had a right to be angry and bitter and wanting to get even, it was Joseph. 20 years before he had been sold into slavery by his own brothers. Some of his brothers wanted to kill him (I think it was Simeon, personally.  I think that is why in the previous chapters Joseph picked him to be in prison while the other brothers went back to get Benjamin. It’s a guess, but it feels like a good guess).  Joseph spent many years as a slave, and just as many in prison after being falsely accused of something he didn’t do.  But now, standing here before his brothers after God had elevated him to 2nd in the land of Egypt (and a father figure to Pharaoh, which also makes me think that Pharaoh had been one of those child Pharaohs we hear about at the time that he had his bad dream, and was comforted by Joseph), Joseph was able to look back on all of the years of betrayal and pain and he could see God’s hand. 

“And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life…and God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.” – Genesis 45:5-8

As Joseph wept before his brothers, these brothers that had betrayed him and had murderous thoughts towards him, he saw God’s bigger plan for his pain. 

Nothing is wasted with God.

“God does not waste an ounce of our pain or a drop of our tears; suffering doesn’t come our way for no reason, and He seems efficient at using what we endure to mold character. If we are malleable, He takes our bumps and bruises and shapes them into something beautiful.” 

― Frank Peretti, The Wounded Spirit

And Joseph was able to embrace his brothers. Not only that, he was able to bless them and all of Israel’s family. 

He could have been spiteful and refused them food and let them starve. 

He could have put them all in prison.

He could have had them killed on the spot. 

And yet he offered them all he had. Everything that God had blessed him with he offered to them.  Joseph understood our pain, and Joseph rejoiced in God’s greater plan. 

There is another who understands betrayal, pain and suffering.

Jesus

Jesus knows our every weakness. 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Jesus experienced all of the pain and heartbreak. He was betrayed by a friend, his people and the religious leaders. He was abandoned by his disciples. He was mocked. He was humiliated. He was put on public display and beaten and tortured. He was publicly stripped of his clothes and brutally killed. He endured the cross and he endured the wrath of God on behalf of sin he didn’t commit. He took punishment he didn’t deserve, and instead of cursing the world he prayed, 

“Father, forgive them…” Luke 23:24 

Jesus saw God’s greater plan for his suffering. In response he rejoiced and praised the Lord. 

This is what we are called to do as well in our own suffering, as we consider the hurts of the past. I’m not minimizing your suffering, just like I would never minimize the suffering that Jesus went through. Acknowledging that the hurts of the past ARE terrible, we can look to Jesus and praise the Lord that he had a plan for our pain.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:1-3 

Questions for Reflection

1.  As you read this, who is standing front and center in your mind that is in need of your forgiveness today?  Who do you need to ask forgiveness from?

2.  Can you look back on your life and see God’s plan amidst your pain?  Is it a comfort to know that Jesus understands your suffering and is calling you to praise God as you trust Him?