FORGIVENESS AS A RULE OF LIFE

“Nothing in or of this world measures up to the simple pleasure of experiencing the presence of God.” – Aiden Wilson Tozer.

The life of Joseph, as recounted in the book of Genesis, is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. God used Joseph mightily, but as often is the case, that comes with great suffering. Joseph was mistreated, slandered, and betrayed by his own family. As a result, he had to learn how to forgive others.

After Joseph was wrongfully sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, he was wronged again by his Egyptian master’s wife. Still, through his God-given ability to be blessed in all situations and to interpret dreams, he rose to the second-in-command position over all of Egypt. In that position, Joseph then had the opportunity to wield power over his food-seeking brothers during a severe famine. Rather than seeking revenge for being wronged, Joseph talked about his heart for God and gave us an object lesson in forgiveness. Genesis 41:51 says, “ Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” In that statement, we have the blueprint for forgiveness in 2025.

God has caused me to forget: Joseph recognized that true forgiveness comes from God, and does not come naturally to people. God’s action in forgiveness is very specific; it comes through me. It is not for someone else; I must respond to God, even ask Him, to cause me, as Joseph did, to forget our troubles. And then he forgot: it was gone from Joseph’s mind.

What did God cause Joseph to forget? Not his brothers, as he instantly recognized them when they came before him for food. He forgot the difficulties and the consequences – the pain and humiliation – of the wrongs done against him. Once those are forgotten, which only God can do, the offense can disappear or at least seem less important. His brothers’ jealousy, his father’s favoritism, and his innocent prideful behavior led to his brothers’ hatred of him. All of those things were taken from his mind.

For a believer, forgiveness is a central tenet of faith, encompassing both receiving and extending forgiveness. It involves letting go of resentment and anger towards others, even those who have wronged them, and also recognizing one’s own need for forgiveness from God. This process is rooted in God’s forgiveness of humanity through Jesus Christ and is a pathway to spiritual, mental, and emotional healing.

Once again, Joseph’s focus was on God and what He could do in the midst of evil and unhappy circumstances. For those who struggle to forgive, entrust it to God. Ask Him to change your heart and trust that He will bring you to a place of peace. The journey may be challenging, but with God, it can be a rule of life.

Discussion Questions:

What are some key biblical examples of forgiveness that inspire you, and why?
How does understanding God’s forgiveness of our own sins impact our ability and motivation to forgive others
How can forgiveness be a rule of life?