Forgiving and Forgetting the Past (Gen. 41:46-57)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 01-06-2008

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Forgiving and forgetting the past.

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                              Reference:  Genesis 41:46-57

 

            Message of the verses:  “46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.  47  During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly.  48  So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields.  49  Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.  50  Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.  51  Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household."  52  He named the second Ephraim, "For," he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."  53  When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54  and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.  55  So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do." 56  When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.  57 The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.”

 

            Joseph now begins a new life in Egypt, for he had overcome what his brothers had done to him, and the things that had happened in Potiphar’s house, and the things that had happened to him while in prison.  It is wonderful how Joseph came through all of the testing’s that God had sent his way.  I can imagine that there were times when Joseph was very upset over the things that had happened to him, things that he did not deserve, yet during those thirteen long years Joseph’s character was being built, and he took the opportunity to draw closer to the Lord, for in the back of his mind he must have remembered the dreams that God had given him would someday come true.  Dr. Wiersbe says some good things here that I would like to put in this SD.  “It’s a wonderful thing when we can come through times of trial with the kind of attitude Joseph had, burying the past hurts and rejoicing in present blessings, being ‘forgetful’ and ‘fruitful’ at the same time.  What a tragedy when people remember the painful things others have done to them, and their lives carry bitterness that robs them of peace and joy.  Just as Joseph laid aside his prison clothes and made a new beginning, so we frequently need to ‘take off’ the old hurt and put on a new attitude of faith and love (Eph. 4:20-32; Col. 3:1-17).

Eph. 4:20-32, (NLT), “20 But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ.  21 Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, 22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.  23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.  24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.  25  So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other.  26  And "don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27  for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.  28  If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.

29  Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.  32  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  Col. 3:1-17, (NLT), “1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power.  2  Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.  3  For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  4 And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.  6  God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things.  7  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.  9  Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.  10  In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.  11  In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  13  You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  14  And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  16  Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  17  And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have been looking at Joseph’s life and comparing some of the things that have happened to him with some of the things that have happened to me, mostly the investment issue.  It will be five years since the Lord has allowed our investment to be gone from us, and I hope that in those five years that the Lord has taught me things that I would not have learned any other way.  I do feel more content and money does not mean as much to me that is having a lot of it, all though I still struggle with this from time to time.  I do believe that I can say that God has meant this for my good, just as Joseph will say latter on in this book of Genesis.  I do not want to become bitter, but better through this trial, and I still trust that the Lord may someday work that this investment will be returned to me, in His time, but if not then just as now His grace will be sufficient for me.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust that the Lord will give me the grace each day to see me through and to bring honor and glory to Him.