“The Power of Forgiveness”
Lesson Text: Genesis 50:15-26
Background Scripture: Genesis 50:1-26
Devotional Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6-11
Genesis 50:15-26
15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.23And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.25And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.26So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
OBJECTIVES
To recount that understanding God's sovereignty enabled Joseph to forgive his brothers for their sins against him.To learn that when we understand God's larger purposes, it is easier to genuinely forgive others.To emphasize that we must learn to forgive those who sin against us based on our trust in God's sovereignty over our lives.
INTRODUCTION
The holding of grudges among human beings is very common. Grudges are carried by individuals, of course, but also by entire families and larger groups of people. Sadly, the holding of grudges is not uncommon among those who profess to be followers of Christ. Just ask some people why they left their former congregation for another church, and it becomes clear that grudges are being held. Sometimes an entire church may animosity toward another church. This might occur after a church split. While those holding grudges may feel completely justified in their actions and attitudes, such resentment indicates a lack of forgiveness. Those who say they can forgive but not forget have not really forgiven! At the heart of the gospel is forgiveness. And we who have received pardon from God must be willing to extend it to others (Col. 3:13).
Last Words
“Last words” are what a person utters just before dying. Sometimes these are treasured by family members. Sometimes those final utterances have an unusual twist. Such was the situation when a man’s last words to his wife were to tell her that in the garage loft was a can full of silver dollars. He was the only one who knew about this treasure, and he wanted to make sure that she did not sell the property without knowing about it. The study for today is based on the final 12 verses of the book of Genesis. Many people are able to recite the opening phrase of Genesis 1, but only a few know the final words of the book. The first four words in Genesis are “In the beginning God.” Those four words are very important. If a person understands that phrase and governs his or her life accordingly, then other things fall into place. The last phrase of Genesis is rather sobering: “in a coffin in Egypt.” These words cause contemplation, because death is our destiny. Few of us will be buried in Egypt, but we will have a grave somewhere unless Jesus returns before we die. “In the beginning God……in a coffin in Egypt.” Those phrases mean much. Words, as well as actions, have great significance.
