3/21 Through the Bible in Devotions

Genesis 50 Speak kindly (or “forgiveness”)

“And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” (v.2:21c)


We need more kindness, more forgiveness in the church today. How hard we can become against a fellow brother, how crass, and uncaring and lacking in compassion and mercy. Joseph had a just reason to be angry at his brothers, more so than most of us, but he chose the right road, the way of forgiveness. This is a choice we make, and not an unavoidable whim, we can either be bitter and vengeful, or we can be forgiving and loving, it is up to each of us. It is up to us which spirit we will have, I wonder how you or I would have acted? Sure Joseph sees the end of the matter and how God was in it, but still he could have been bitter for all their evil toward him, and his abuse by them, but we are to be forgiving whether we see His hand in it or not! When the Lord forgives, He hides our sins behind His back, and casts them into the depths of the sea; He separates us from them as far as the east is from the west, and yet cannot even forgive a trivial matter against our brother!

The brothers, after all, did confess to him, and seek forgiveness, as we do unto the Lord. Jesus is the kindest, of the kind; the most compassionate of the compassionate; and full of grace and goodness. He forgives us every time we seek forgiveness. Joseph is a type of Christ in this way too, in being forgiving. The brothers meant it for evil, but God meant it for good (v.20). God has an uncanny way of turning evil into good. We can rejoice in this, that when evil comes upon us, God can use it for His glory, and bring good from it. Romans 8:28 tells us this same principle, which we no doubt, will see later in the study of that book. A heart of compassion is born from a life of affliction, and we need more of it! Joseph had compassion, do you? Joseph comforted them in their fears, and in so doing won their hearts to him. Compassion is not instilled in us by nature, but it is taught us by the grace and love of God. It is a portion of His love working in us. Without the Lord, there is no compassion; without Him there is no hope.