The Mind of Christ

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

We now come to Joseph, Jacobs son, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. His brothers hated him because Jacob, his dad, showed favoritism to him over all the other brothers. After being sold to the Egyptians God Provincially made Joseph 2nd in command, the only man higher would be Pharaoh. Jacobs family then travels from the promise land to Egypt because of a famine and unknowingly meet with Joseph. The brothers assuming Joseph was dead or under enslavement didn’t recognize him. They soon are made to realize that Joseph would be the one to feed them and give them all they need to thrive during the famine.

This story exemplifies forgiveness and faithfulness. Joseph could have held a grudge and done to his brothers what they did to him. Joseph could have easily had them put to death or enslaved them. However Joseph understood that God showed him grace and he graciously passed that along to them. We can find ourselves bitter with anger or what we feel is justifiable retaliation. However we read in Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.when we forgive we are essentially proclaiming the Gospel message to the world.

Another point of application is that Christ is faithful. Going back to Joseph’s great, great, great grandpa a promise was given to Abraham that from him would be many descendants and from them the promised seed (Jesus;Gen 12:1-3) Now if Joseph is killed this could not have happened so God made a way. We can rest assured that God still works this way today. Again in Ephesians we are told “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.(chapter 2:10)” 

We serve a God that is forgiving, even when we “feel” as if we have done something that can’t be forgiven. We are forgiven not based on our merit or good looks but because of the grace that He lavishes upon us. We also serve a God that “makes a way” for us. When all hope seems to be gone God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us on account of Christ.

I can’t help but think of the band Chicago and Peter Cetera in the song, Glory of Love:

It’s like a knight in shining armor
From a long time ago
Just in time I will save the day
Take you to my castle far away. This is our confident expectation, wrapped in our loving arms of Jesus who will wipe away tear and our faith becomes sight.