“And Joseph said unto them, ‘Fear not—for am I in the place of God? But, as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now, therefore, fear not; I will nourish you and your little ones.’ And, he comforted them and spoke kindly unto them.”
Genesis 50:19-21
It wasn’t his position on the throne that enabled him to do it; it was his connection with the One Who’d done the same thing for him.
Forgiveness.
That’s the essence of today’s Manna. And, we must realize that such doesn’t come easily, quickly or painlessly. In fact, as we’ll see, it cost Jesus His life on the Cross. Therefore, we’d do well to make this spiritual Food a part of our daily diet, lest we forget what Jesus Himself had to say on the subject (Mt. 6:12, 14-15).
In reality, Joseph had had 20-22 years’ practice in learning forgiveness before today’s Manna took place. Sold into slavery at the age of 17 (Gen. 37:2) and 30-years-old when Pharaoh placed him second-in-command (41:46), there’d already been seven years of bountiful crops before the famine set in. And, we’re not told how long it was after it started before his brothers showed up wanting to buy corn (42:1-6).
But, one thing was clear:
Joseph had had plenty of time to learn forgiveness, for such tenderness of heart and gentleness of spirit do not spring from a hardened heart filled with a root of bitterness.
No, no doubt from the time he was a young boy sitting on his mama’s lap listening to the stories of Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Jacob. . .to his formative years as a teenager. . .and during those difficult 13 years preceding the palace that took him to the pit and the prison. . .he’d had ample opportunities to mull over his situation and all that’d happened to him.
Yet, instead of “tenting on his resentments” and “nursing his hurts,” he “hid God’s Word in his heart so he’d not sin against Him” (Ps. 119:11). Instead of focusing on all of the injustice, unkind words and deeds he’d endured, etc., he “captured his thoughts and laid them at the feet of the One Who was continually with him” (cf. II Cor. 10:3-5).
The fact that he wept so easily and often (Gen. 42:24; 43:29-30; 45:1-2; 50:17c) reveals a tender heart—which comes from a continual touch of the Master’s hand and is sensitive to the sins and needs of those around it.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, life here on earth is hard. Even the best of relationships are strained at times, causing great anguish of mind and agony of soul. However, by running to Jesus in our hour of need (Heb. 4:16) and “casting all our cares upon Him” (I Pet. 5:7) we’re able to stay pliable in His Hands and responsive to His Voice. Such was certainly the case with Joseph, who (like Christ) had suffered greatly because of others’ sins and showed great Grace/Mercy to those who didn’t deserve it. May we do the same today.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated August 26, 2009
