Joseph Reveals His Identity

Forgiveness



Scripture:

Genesis 45 - 46:7


Observation:

Despite the wounds they inflicted upon him, Joseph forgives his brothers, introduces them to Pharaoh, and invites his father, brothers, and their families to come to Egypt to live.

Healing begins with forgiveness and empowers us to truly love others. Forgiveness also enables us to see God moving. Unforgiveness imprisons us. Forgiveness sets us free.


Application:

I am responsible to forgive any who have hurt me. Forgiveness is not forgetting what happened but is, instead, releasing the person from any obligation to “make it up” to you. It is saying “you don’t owe me anything, this is now only between you and God.”

In The Bait of Satan Workbook, John Bevere describes the following steps to forgiveness:

1. Admit you have been wounded or hurt by the person - don’t deny it and stuff your feelings
2. Ask God to forgive you for holding onto unforgiveness toward the person who offended you
3. Out loud choose to forgive the person (by name!) and release him/her, telling God what s/he did
4. Pray for God’s blessings on every area of the person’s life
5. When hurt feelings resurface, remind the enemy that you forgave the offense, and bless the person again

Prayer:

Thank You for forgiving me - help me to forgive and to love people the way You love us!