If Not For God

By Ifeoluwa Fatoki

Devotional Reading: “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. (Genesis 50:20 NAS)

The story of Joseph is strange, yet special. He was betrayed by members of his immediate family—his very brothers and sold into slavery. His elder brothers who were meant to protect him were the very ones who sold him into slavery. Years later, Joseph had the opportunity to get back at them. He was in the position to take revenge, but rather than execute vengeance, he extended grace.

We find ourselves in a world where betrayals happen, and even believers are not exempted. It hurts the more if the source of our pain are people closest to us, and when opportunities present themselves, we are tempted to revenge than to forgive. Sometimes, the urge for revenge does not even mean doing evil, but sometimes been indifferent when we could have helped is our quiet way of revenging.

But not Joseph. Even though he didn’t do his brothers evil by imprisoning them, he could have neglected them. He could have denied them the opportunity of getting food in Egypt. Rather than remember the hurts, Joseph remembered the help of God in his story.

Dear friend, is there still hurt in your heart against any individual because their actions brought you untold agony and pain? Rather than rehearse the hurt, can you recount the help you found from God in those times? And more importantly, can you forgive them?

Prayer and Confession.
Lord, I am grateful for the help that You provided when the people I trusted hurt me, do help me Father, to let go and forgive completely. Amen.

Further Reading: Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:12-14