October 12

‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.’” “An now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Genesis 50:17.

Joseph’s brothers bring a message from their father, Jacob. They are seeking forgiveness for the way that they had treated Joseph. This is one of the first times that the word forgiveness appears in the Bible. The Hebrew word is Nasa. It expresses the idea of lifting up and producing a clear conscience. It involved a substitute to take away the blame and the guilt. Certainly God had shown this type of forgiveness when an animal was sacrificed to provide skins for Adam and Eve.

I am saddened by those around me who can not accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Oh they will say that they do, but in the next breath they will condemn themselves, fall into self-pity, be negative toward others, and in general focus on the despair in their lives. All because they can not truly accept forgiveness. This behavior stems from the mistaken idea that their personal sins are above and beyond what God can handle. It is really arrogance and self-worship that lie at the root of this problem.

Father, let us today bathe joyously in Your forgiveness. Your act at the cross has taken care of all sins- past, present and future. I can not claim that any sin has been overlooked by Jesus. I can not improve upon forgiveness by any self-effort, and to condemn myself for my behavior is a direct affront to You. Change my mindset so that I will know that I am free from this trap of guilt. When Jesus sets me free, I shall be free indeed! In His name, Amen.
                                            Back