The Big Reveal

The Big Reveal

(Genesis 45:1-15)

Yearly Theme:  “Love Does…”

Series Title:  Hard Knock Life

September 22^nd, 2019

Something to think about:

Love keeps no record of wrongs; even toward one’s enemies.

We come to the conclusion of the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis.  Many years have passed, and now Joseph (estranged from his brothers) has the opportunity to see them again.  Due to the great famine that Joseph had predicted to Pharaoh, the surrounding nations came to Egypt for food.  Joseph’s brothers would be sent by their father Jacob to the land of Egypt to procure food so they wouldn’t die.  In the midst of their comings and goings in Egypt, Joseph (who controls the grain supply) notices familiar faces and names of men who come to buy food.  Over a series of different meetings with them, Joseph can stand it no longer and decides to reveal who he is to his brothers who – so long ago – had sold him into slavery. 

This is where we pick up his story today…

Turn in your Bibles to:  Genesis 45:1-15; 50:14-21

What’s the key point in all of this this morning?...

Key Point:  “True forgiveness allows for the faults of others and doesn’t hold it against them.”

Here’s what we can learn about Joseph’s love for his family this morning:

1. Joseph’s wisdom and maturity and faith helped him see how God had brought something good out of what his brothers had intended for evil.

Genesis 45:7-8 (NLT), ⁷  God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. ⁸  So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

2. Joseph’s love for God was the basis of his love and forgiveness toward his brothers.

Genesis 50:19-21 (NLT), ¹⁹  But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? ²⁰  You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. ²¹  No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

Something to take home:

Key Point:  “True forgiveness allows for the faults of others and doesn’t hold it against them.”

How often have we refused to forgive others who have harmed us?  How often have we refused forgiveness from others all because we cannot forgive ourselves?  How many of us continue to hold on to the faults of others and hold things against them, when God tells us to forgive them?  What holds us back from truly loving others the way God loves them and gave Himself for them?  What holds us back from cleaning the slate and getting rid of the lists that we keep of the wrongs that others have done to us?

It’s important to remember, as the old saying goes, “Harboring unforgiveness toward another person is like drinking poison expecting it to kill the other person.”

It’s time to forgive.  It’s time to let go of the record of wrongs that we’ve been holding on to toward others and ourselves.