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The Joseph Process: Penitence-Part 1
By Janine Scott-Lowe, MD.
Genesis 45:4-5: "I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt! But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it! He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."
Genesis 45:10-11: "You shall live in the land of Goshen so that you can be near me...I will take care of you there."
Genesis 45:14-15: Then weeping with joy, [Joseph] embraced Benjamin...and he did the same with each of his brothers.
Penitence means to be sorry for having done wrong and willing to atone (to make amends or to make right) for that wrong.
At this point in the story, you would think that the logical next step would be for Joseph's brothers to find out who he really is, and ask him for forgiveness. You would think that this would be Joseph's time to take revenge and get back at his brothers for how they treated him. What a perfect opportunity for Joseph; he would be able to deny them food during the famine, thus placing a death sentence on them as they would eventually starve because of the harsh conditions in which they were living.
But, did Joseph do this? No! Joseph did NOT exact vengeance on his brothers. Not only did he NOT do HARM to them, but he actually went BEYOND that and did GOOD. Why? Because after all these years, Joseph realized that what happened to him was NOT because of what his BROTHERS did to him, but was because of GOD'S PLAN for his life. He discovered that it is GOD who orchestrates our lives. He is SOVEREIGN. What happens to us may happen THROUGH others, but is NOT DETERMINED BY THEM (Hallelujah!) GOD is in control. Whatever we face in life has to FIRST GO THROUGH HIM, and be ALLOWED BY HIM. That is a good thing because, as He made us, He knows what is in each of us that will be able to stand up to whatever comes against us. Truly, God, as a LOVING and KIND Father, NEVER PUTS MORE ON US THAN WE CAN BARE. If we have it, we can handle it! (I like that!) We can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)
In looking back to today's Scriptures, we see that Joseph did these kind things for his brothers EVEN WITHOUT THEM APOLOGIZING TO HIM. He did not wait for them to say they were sorry or to feel bad. He extended GRACE to them BEFORE THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED IT.
How like God Joseph is at this time. God ALSO did something nice FOR US, though we DID NOT DESERVE it and DID NOT EVEN KNOW TO ASK FOR IT. Romans 5:8 says that God sent His Son to die for our sins EVEN WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS. Not only were we NOT serving Him, we were actually His ENEMIES. But, BECAUSE HE LOVED US SO, He sent His Son to die for us so that we could obtain eternal life through Him. Now THAT'S LOVE, shown by the extension of God's GRACE and MERCY towards us.
There is so much to learn concerning this issue of penitence that I must write Part 2 about it next week.
Be blessed until then!
Romans 8:10: And since, when we were His ENEMIES, we were brought back to God by the death of His Son, what BLESSINGS He must have for us NOW THAT WE ARE HIS FRIENDS! (TLB)
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Janine Scott-Lowe, MD is a Family Physician who practices in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, taking care of the soldiers and family members of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. She has two beautiful daughters, Kendall and Katrina.
You can find more articles and information about Janine's books on her website:
http://www.hishandsextendedonline.com.
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