JOSEPH Series SURPRISED BY FORGIVENESS Genesis 45 REVIEW

JOSEPH (Series) SURPRISED BY…. FORGIVENESS Genesis 45

REVIEW • JOSEPH IS LOVED BY HIS FATHER • JOSEPH IS RESENTED BY HIS BROTHERS • JOSEPH IS SOLD INTO SLAVERY IN EGYPT • JOSEPH IS PLACED OVER POTIPHER’S HOUSE • JOSEPH IS FALSELY ACCUSED AND IMPRISONED • JOSEPH IS BLESSED IN ALL THAT HE DOES • JOSEPH INTERPRETS THE DREAMS OF PHARAOH • JOSEPH IS MADE PRIME-MINISTER OVER ALL OF EGYPT • JOSEPH MEETS HIS YOUNGEST BROTHER, BENJAMIN • JOSEPH’S BROTHER, JUDAH, INTERCEDES FOR BENJAMIN

WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? THE GREEK WORD MEANS: “LET GO” “SET FREE” “RELEASE” “GIVING UP MY RIGHT TO HURT YOU FOR HURTING ME” “TO CANCEL A DEBT OR OBLIGATION” “TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO RELEASE THE OFFENDER FROM GUILT OR PENALTY REGARDING THE OFFENSE”

GOD HAS FORGIVEN US! 1. EVERY SIN HAS BEEN REMOVED (Ps. 103: 3) 2. GOD REMEMBERS OUR SINS NO MORE (Isa. 43: 25) 3. GOD HAS CARRIED ALL OUR SINS AWAY (Isa. 53: 12) 4. GOD HAS REMOVED OUR SINS AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST (Ps. 103: 12) 5. GOD HAS NAILED OUR SINS TO THE CROSS (Col. 2: 4)

“Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, ‘Have everyone go out from me. ’ So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still alive? ’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were terrified at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come closer to me. ’ And they came closer. And he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. ’” GENESIS 45: 1 -4

“And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land for these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay…I will provide for you…’ and he kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him. ” GENESIS 45: 5 -15

GENESIS CHAPTER 45 THEME: FORGIVENESS • JOSEPH IDENTIFIES HIMSELF TO HIS BROTHERS (Gen. 45: 1 -6) • JOSEPH COMFORTS AND FORGIVES HIS BROTHERS (Gen. 45: 7 -11) • JOSEPH IS RECONCILED TO HIS BROTHERS (Gen. 45: 12 -15) • JOSEPH’S BROTHERS GO HOME TO GET JACOB (Gen. 45: 16 -26) • JOSEPH’S FATHER, JACOB, DETERMINES TO SEE HIS SON, JOSEPH (Gen. 45: 27 -

HOW TO FORGIVE LIKE JOSEPH 1. WITH GOD’S HELP – MAKE THE DECISION TO FORGIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD! “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. ” (Eph. 4: 32)

HOW TO FORGIVE LIKE JOSEPH 2. WITH GOD’S HELP – RELEASE THE ONE WHO HAS OFFENDED YOU FROM THEIR GUILT AND PENALTY AND DO NOT HOLD IT AGAINST THEM! “But his brothers were terrified…and he said to them ‘do not be grieved or angry with yourselves. …’” (Gen. 45: 3, 4)

HOW TO FORGIVE LIKE JOSEPH 3. WITH GOD’S HELP – FORGIVE QUICKLY AND DO NOT HOLD ANIMOSITY TOWARD A PERSON WHO HAS OFFENDED YOU. Genesis chapter 44: Genesis chapter 45: Repentance of the brothers Forgiveness toward the brothers

HOW TO FORGIVE LIKE JOSEPH 4. WITH GOD’S HELP – REFUSE TO BRING UP THE OFFENSE TO THE PERSON OR TO ANY ONE ELSE. KEEP IT PRIVATE! “Joseph cried, ‘Have everyone go out from me. ’ So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself know to his brothers. ” (Genesis 45: 1)

HOW TO FORGIVE LIKE JOSEPH 5. WITH GOD’S HELP – SEEK RECONCILIATION WHEN POSSIBLE! “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me…. ’ And he kissed all his brothers and wept on them and his brothers talked with him. ’” (Gen. 45: 4, 15)

HOW TO FORGIVE LIKE JOSEPH 6. WITH GOD’S HELP – SEEK TO SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE OF GOD’S HAND AT WORK SO YOU CAN HAVE UNDERSTANDING AND GROW THROUGH THE OFFENSE YOU HAVE SUFFERED! “And God sent me before you to preserve life…and to preserve for you a remnant in the earth and keep you alive by a great deliverance…. ” (Gen. 45: 5 -