“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

Genesis 45-50

The end of Genesis tells the story of Joseph encountering his brothers for the first time since being thrown into a pit and sold into slavery. There was a famine in the land, and his brothers were sent by their father Jacob to go to Egypt for food. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. In Genesis 45:4-5 Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers, “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

As we can imagine, the brothers were speechless – “But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.” It’s not surprising that words escaped Joseph’s brothers. Forgiveness has that affect on people.

The first time the word “forgive” appears in the Bible is in Genesis 50:17. Jacob had passed away and Joseph’s brothers were skeptical as to whether Joseph would still treat them well after their father’s death. So, they approached Joseph and shared what Jacob had asked them to share: “Say to Joseph: ‘I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.”

The first book of the Bible ends with a major theme of all scripture – forgiveness. This theme will weave its way through Exodus, the prophets, Christ and his followers, even through the Resurrection itself. It’s the story of God reconciling God’s self to all humanity through Jesus Christ. It’s interesting that the book of Genesis begins with God creating humankind in God’s image. In other words, we were created to be reflections of God, which absolutely includes forgiveness. The end of Genesis serves as a nice bookend to this concept, as Joseph embodied this idea of the image of God as he forgave his brothers.

Prayer:

Forgiving God, help us to remember that we too can forgive. We forgive because you have first forgiven us. May we be forgiven forgivers today and know that through your Holy Spirit anything is possible, even forgiving ourselves. Amen.

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:

What is your primary image of God?

Since we were created in the image of God, what characteristics should we reflect in our lives? God has not left us alone to live in God’s image – how have you experienced God’s assistance in reflecting God’s image?

Forgiveness is a process. Look back over Joseph’s life – the pit, prison, and palace – and consider how those experiences shaped him in becoming a forgiving person.

Joseph forgave his brothers not simply for the reconciliation of their relationship, but also for the greater good – the future of Israel and ultimately all humanity. How might your ability to forgive affect others in the present and future?

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