Today’s Verse—Luke 6:37
If you do not judge others, then you will not be judged. If you
do not find others guilty, then you will not be found guilty.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Joseph had every right to get even with his brothers. They had thrown him into a well and sold him into slavery. Nice guys. But then his life went from bad to worse. He was wrongfully accused of a crime, thrown into an Egyptian prison, and left to die.
After many years, God caused Pharaoh to put Joseph in charge of all the food in his kingdom. When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food for their starving families, they didn’t recognize him. Joseph now had the power to get even with them. But he didn’t.
“You are spies,” Joseph said accusingly.
They assured him they weren’t. Eventually Joseph gave them food and allowed them to return home, but he kept one brother in prison until they came back to Egypt. He needed to know if they’d changed. When they returned, they brought their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove they weren’t spies. But Joseph still didn’t know whether they were sorry for what they’d done to him. So the second time they prepared to leave Egypt, he made it look like Benjamin had stolen one of his expensive cups.
“As punishment,” Joseph said, “Benjamin will stay in Egypt.”
“Take me instead,” said one of his brothers. “Our father will die if Benjamin doesn’t return.”
That’s when Joseph knew his brothers had changed. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he told them.
Loquacious Learning with Eugene
An atom is so small that you can’t see it without an electron microscope. And every atom has a nucleus at its center. The nucleus is usually a stable part of the atom. Unstable nuclei send out particles called radiation. If the nucleus of an atom is split or if two small atoms are forced together, heat and radiation are released. Not forgiving others can be compared to an unstable nucleus. It is a miniscule thing, but under the proper conditions, it can lead to an enormous explosion.
At first his brothers were scared. They knew he had the power to get even with them.
But Joseph said, “What you meant for evil, God used for good.”
Joseph had realized that God’s purpose for his life didn’t depend on his brothers’ actions. He had let go of the mean things that his brothers had done to him so he could fully live the life God wanted for him. To let go, Joseph chose to forgive his brothers. (For the whole story, see Genesis chapters 37, 39–45.)
Daily Challenge
Be especially nice to your siblings this week and try to do what is right by them. If you’re an only child, choose a friend to treat especially well, the way Joseph treated others.
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Forgiveness Theme Memory Verse—Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.