How Do We Forgive Awful?

In my last blog I talked about 9/11, and things that happened on that day. in reference to Joseph’s response to his brother’s attempt to ask for forgiveness for the awful/evil things they did to Joseph.

September 11th created a radically new chapter in the history of the  United States of America.

A day that most of us can remember moment by moment. 

We can remember where we were, what we were doing, how we were feeling, and how we spent that awful challenging day.

Horror, anger, disbelief, outrage etc.,  filled our thinking and our speaking.  

Now, nineteen years later, I sit here wondering about the issue before us as we read Genesis 50:15-21

15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ ¹⁶So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, ¹⁷“Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’ ¹⁹But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? ²⁰Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. ²¹So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

First of all the brothers did not ask for forgiveness.  

⁷“Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ 

How did Joseph respond?

⁹But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? ²⁰Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 

Those who cause the destruction in New York, Washington D.C and over the skis of Pennsylvania, on September 11 2001, never even considered asking for forgiveness.

As a matter of fact, they believed they were doing God’s work.

so in order for those affected by that awful day to live in peace, there needs to be some form of forgiveness.

For their own peace of mind they need to grapple with what they grieved; and yet could do nothing about.

Put yourself in their place.

How would you do it?

I would imagine you would do it much like Joseph did.  He took life as it came and trusted in God’s presence and guidance.  Then lived each moment at a time.

Now I invite you to notice how Joseph responded to his brothers.

Notice that he didn’t actually say he forgave his brothers?

He basically told them they needed to let God do the forgiving.  And in order to do that they need to repent to God for their sins.

However, by his actions Joseph show no revenge.  

By his actions he show the love and mercy of God.

I want to think God mended Joseph’s anger and pain as a result of his brother’s action toward him.

As Joseph lived his life, in a foreign country/culture, he grew in faith and thus wisdom.  Learning to adjust to the awful that had been done to him

Without God’s gracious help, forgiveness is impossible for the human physic to manage.

That is just the truth.