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When someone says something hurtful or we feel we've been wronged, we naturally feel upset and angry. We dwell on what's happened and it can be a difficult step to take to forgive that person. It is the right step to take, however.
One amazing story of forgiveness is found at the beginning of the Bible. It is the story of Joseph. Read Genesis chapter 37 to see how Joseph was treated. We're told that Joseph had eleven older brothers who became very jealous of him, especially when their father Jacob made Joseph "a richly ornamented robe" (chapter 37, verse 3). They caught Joseph, sold him as a slave and then deceived their father into believing that he had died.
So what happens to this family? Read Genesis chapters 39 to 50, which tell us the whole story. Joseph came face to face with his brothers again and, although he had been treated very badly, ultimately (chapter 50, verse 17) Joseph forgave.
Exodus chapter 1, verses 1-4 give you the names of all the brothers who were reunited in Egypt. Can you fit them into this puzzle?
Peter is wondering about the act of forgiveness in Matthew chapter 18. See how Jesus answers his question in verses 21-22:
"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (margin - "seventy times seven")
Jesus wants His disciples to have a spirit of endless forgiveness. Why might that be? Read what Jesus says next to Peter to illustrate this point (chapter 18, verses 23-35): We are to forgive each other, just as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us.
1 John chapter 2, verse 12 says: "I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name."
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Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross forgave us our sins. Help us to turn away from doing wrong and to show more forgiveness for one another. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen. |
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