Love for One AnotherStruggles with Love
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) LOVE VERSUS GUILT Genesis 45:1-14
New International VersionJoseph Makes Himself Known45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.[a] 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise, you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward, his brothers talked with him. For ReflectionJoseph had every right to punish his brothers for what they had done to him and his father. Instead, Joseph welcomes them in a feast. Not only does Joseph forgive his brothers, but he justifies his forgiveness by acknowledging the divine wisdom that allowed the saving of lives during the famine. Joseph could see beyond the sacrifice of his father's suffering and the jealously that animated his brother's deceit. Joseph saw the goodness in the will of God.
This is the value of restorative justice. It did not punish. Instead, it restored the family to rightness with God and each other. PrayPray so that you see the wisdom in a system of justice that seeks to restore the goodness of humankind. Pray for a more just system that ends the downward spiral of an eye for an eye, harm to those who harm, and vindictiveness. Pray so that you can find a path for restoration for those who in some way harmed you or for those whom you have harmed.
Forward to a friend | 
