Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Even 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.”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, September 27, 2020
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: Even though it may feel good to be avenged, there is more power in forgiveness and reconciliation.
Joseph’s story took place over several decades. It began with an incident when he was a boy, when he dared to share with his brothers the dream in which he was master over them, continued with his being sold into slavery in Egypt, on to his fall and rise into power in Egypt, his saving the country from famine, and ended with the reunification of Joseph with his brothers when they fled to Egypt to escape famine.
Joseph’s life was a roller coaster ride with extremely low lows and unbelievably high highs. At this point in the story, Joseph had already endured the lowest that his life would take him, and he had risen to power in Egypt— second in power only to Pharaoh himself. One wonders if the man, Joseph—facing the brothers whose selfishness and jealousy propelled him into this life of turmoil and joy—had any thoughts or words for the boy, Joseph, who could not have imagined how this life would have turned out. Did the man, Joseph, have forgiveness to offer the boys that did him wrong so many decades prior?
When I was young, someone I loved very much hurt me deeply. I remember thinking that someday they would be sorry—that they would grow up and realize what they had done and would finally experience remorse to the depth that I had experienced the pain. (And yes, I had built up quite an articulate “I told you so,” just for that very moment.) But an interesting thing happened over the decades. When that person did finally grow to the point of recognizing their fault, they were no longer the same person, nor was I. There was no point in rubbing “I told you so” in their face because that person I wanted to correct no longer existed. And I no longer felt the need to be right, as I had spent many decades making even worse mistakes than they had. I had my own “I told you so’s” to offer myself.
In light of my own experience, I imagine Joseph had spent many years secretly plotting his own “I told you so,” only to discover that the man he’d become and the men they’d become no longer warranted it. Instead, Joseph chose forgiveness and reconciliation. His courageous and selfless letting go held the family together, and that family would go on to become a great nation that, in turn, would be the birthplace of Christianity. How powerful forgiveness and reconciliation can be in the place of needing to be right and vindicated!
I follow in your path, God, to become a more understanding, forgiving person. Lift me up when I need help to grow into your forgiveness. Amen.
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