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Genesis 50:1-26: You Can Forgive and Move OnTommy Meador / GeneralThe Story of Joseph / Genesis 50:1–26Introduction cords-in-a-single-ye - A man living life by a book Over the last year - we’ve studied ONE book - Genesis The start of an entire collection of books that make up onebook: the Bible. This opening book has set the stage Taught us that Godis a powerful creator who desires a relationship with thepeople He created. This book has taught us of oursinfulness. This opening book has pointed us to our need for aSavior When we know the book, we can know the God who lovesus, and we can live in the way He has called us to. God’s way is the way of grace, mercy, and forgiveness.But, we struggle most to live His way in the context of ourrelationships with other people. Love, compassion, mercy,and grace is hard to give when people hurt us. Gen. 50 - One final confrontation with Joseph’s brotherswho had hurt him severely. In this final conversation,Joseph forgives. Two questions I want to answer from this story: 1. WhyExported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.1

can I forgive people who hurt me? 2. How can I forgivepeople who hurt me?Why can I forgive people whohurt me? Jacob’s dying request to be buried with his ancestors In the same cave where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac andRebekah, and Leah buried. Remember the piece of landAbe bought in Canaan? (Gen. 23) Abe laid claim on theland believing that one day it would all be his. After making the request, Jacob died. Joseph weeps, hashim embalmed, and makes the journey to the cave of hisancestors. vs. 7 - Note the caravan of people that went withJoseph. Vs. 9 - “It was a very impressive procession.” The patriarch was gone. What would happen to thefamily? As they lay Jacob’s body to rest, as if Jacob issaying to his sons in his death: "You don’t belong in Egypt.Don’t let our family get comfortable in Egypt.” After mourning, Joseph’s brothers concerned. Whatwould Joseph do to them now that their father was dead?Jacob was the glue that held the family together. PerhapsJacob kept Joseph from causing his brothers to suffer forall the wrong they had done to him. After all, how couldJacob harm his brothers with his father still alive? Now Joseph can finally get revenge. Brothers send a message to Joseph. Too scared to cometo him themselves: “Your father told us to tell you toExported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.2

forgive us.” (Did Jacob really tell them that? Maybe so, ormaybe they’re just scared of Joseph. What would thesecond most powerful man in Egypt do to them?) Joseph weeps over the message. Remember Gen. 45?Joseph told his brothers he didn’t hold their sins againsthim against them. BUT his brothers didn’t believe him. Two powerful statements by Joseph: 1. “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” (vs. 19)Whenever you judge people to condemn them or try to geteven with people, you are putting yourself in the place ofGod. You are not the judge! How much trouble comes inyour life when you try to put yourself in the place of God? 2. “You planned evil against me; God planned it forgood to bring about the present result - the survival ofmany people.” (vs. 20) Until Christ returns, we will live inan evil world. While the world seems to be out of control,God is never out of control. God’s plan WILL NOT FAIL. IfGod’s plan cannot fail, you cannot lose, no matter how badyou’ve been hurt. People can hurt you, but any hurt youexperience in this life is temporary. Brothers couldn’t believe that Joseph would forgivethem BUT they didn’t know God like Jospeh did. Whenyou know God, you can forgive. Real forgiveness is quite unbelievable - The way of theworld isn’t forgiveness, it’s revenge. It’s hurt those whohurt you. It’s hold on to bitterness. Real forgiveness is amiracle nExported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.3

om-afortune-cookie (Unbelievable You see a really wealthyguy How did you get so wealthy? Played my fortunecookie numbers in the lottery ) Why can you forgive people who hurt you?We can forgive because of God’s goodness. God endures with His people. Joseph is the only man ofcharacter in the story. In fact, Joseph is the only majorcharacter in Genesis whose flaws we don’t see. Noah hadflaws. Abraham had flaws. Isaac had flaws. Jacob had lotsof flaws. Simeon, Levi, Rueben, and Judah had lots offlaws. But God didn’t disqualify His people from Hispromises. He endured. He endures with you. You are highlyflawed, yet God still loves you, and God still works in yourlife. God is gracious with His people. God is the God ofsecond chances. Even at our worst, when we cry out toGod, He gives us another chance. (Judah) God forgives His people. He doesn’t hold the sins of Hispeople against them. God is faithful to His people. This is what Joseph knew!He saw God’s plan to save His people in action! If God has been good to you, who are you not to be goodto others? If God endures with you, is gracious with you,and is faithful to you, who are you not to be gracious toothers? Ultimately, who are you not to forgive when you’vebeen forgiven?Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.4

We can forgive because of God’s promise. End of his life, Joseph to his brothers: “God will come toyour aid.” Egypt not the end of their story. “When Godcomes to your aid, carry my bones up from here. Take meto Canaan.” Joseph knew that Egypt was not the end of his story Hewas just a part of the plan to rescue the people of God.Egypt was not the end of the story of his ancestors. Joseph died clinging to the same promise Jacob clungto: the promise of a great nation in the Promised Land. Your hurt is not the end of your story because this life isnot the end of your story. Being forever in His presence isthe promise you’re holding on to. If your hurt is not the end of your story, you have noreason to repay evil for evil. Why dish out to someone whatGod is going to ultimately destroy? God has promised youeternity. If God has given you His best, why would you givesomeone your worst? When your eyes are on what’s best, you can givepeople your best. The Gospel: When Jesus was on this earth, this earthgave Him its worst. But, He gave this world His best: Hislife. Why? Focused on the promise of the Father to redeema broken world for His glory. On the cross, able to look atpeople who wronged Him and say, “Father forgive them,for they do not know what they’re doing.” Then, breathedExported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.5

His last, died for sinful people, then rose again. My friend, you look a lot like Jesus when you look atothers and say, “Even though you have hurt me severely, Iforgive you.”How can I forgive people whohurt me? It’s hard even as children our desire is to hold on tobitterness as we grow older it gets worse. Not forgivingboy who stole my swatch To seeing spouses not beingable to forgive, friends parting ways, etc. Always remember how much you have been forgiven.Who are you to not forgive when you’ve been forgivenmuch? To NOT forgive is the height of ARROGANCE. It’ssaying to someone else, “I deserve forgiveness, but youdon’t.” Confess your anger and bitterness. Uncontrolled angerand bitterness will always hinder your ability to forgive.Bring it before God and ask Him to forgive you of yourgrudges. Live as a dead man. Gal. 2:20 - Your desire: to getrevenge, to repay evil for evil, etc. But, your desires havebeen crucified. “I have the right to be bitter.” No youdon’t. You died to yourself. You are alive to the desires ofJesus. The desire of Jesus: to forgive. How many times?70x7. (Matthew 18:21-22) Initiate the conversation. Don’t wait for the person whoExported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.6

hurt you to come apologize to you. They may neverapologize! Or, they might not even know that they hurtyou, and if you just initiated the conversation, you may besurprised at how open that person is to acknowledginghow they hurt you. Don’t expect things to go back to normal. Forgiveness “I’m not going to hold your sin against you. I don’t judgeyou.” Forgiveness begins the process of rebuilding arelationship - opens the door to reconciliation. But,reconciliation requires rebuilding trust. Reconciliation is amutual effort, and sometimes that person you forgave maynot want reconciliation. Or, in an abusive situation, unwisefor things to go back to what they were. BUT, You can stillforgive. You can still say, “I don’t hold it against you.” Youcan pray for that person who hurt you and desire the bestfor that person. Remain gracious and compassionate. Hurting peoplehurt people. You might not know what happened in thatperson’s life who hurt you. How can you bless the personwho hurt you? How can you give the benefit of the doubt?How can you keep an open door of communication so therelationship might grow again? Don’t keep bringing up the past. Hebrews 8:12. Godforgets nothing, but He treats us as if it’s forgotten. Don’tsay, “I forgive you, but I’ll never forget what you’ve done.”That’s not forgiveness! That’s holding on to a grudge.Forgiveness is that I treat you as if it’s forgotten.Forgiveness is wiping the slate clean and beginning theExported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.7

process of rebuilding a relationship. Put the relationship in God’s hands. That’s always thebest you can do - ask God to make the relationship intowhat He wants it to be. What about you? Have you experienced the free gift of theforgiveness of a Savior? Today, experience His forgivenessby confessing your sins to Him in repentance and turn toHim by faith. Follower of Jesus: Who is God calling you to forgive? Whois that person who’s hurt you that you have a bitter hearttowards? Confess your bitterness to God, and take a steptowards forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gracious gift you cangive, and every time you forgive, you’re able to to open adoor to a conversation about the One who gives ultimateforgiveness. Your steps toward forgiveness opens the doorfor Gospel conversations.Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:26 AM February 8, 2022.8

Why can you forgive people who hurt you? We can forgive because of God's goodness. God endures with His people. Joseph is the only man of character in the story. In fact, Joseph is the only major character in Genesis whose flaws we don't see. Noah had flaws. Abraham had flaws. Isaac had flaws. Jacob had lots of flaws.