Pastor Pete Folger opens the pages of Genesis chapter 50 to share timeless wisdom from the life of Joseph. Through this beloved biblical figure, he guides believers toward a deeper understanding of forgiveness that reflects the heart of Christ. As we walk through the closing verses of Genesis, we discover how Joseph responded to deep betrayal with grace and faith, offering practical steps that can transform our relationships, our families, and our churches today.
The Bible tells us in Genesis 50:19-21 (KJV), “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye 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 ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”
Acknowledge that we are not the judge
Joseph’s brothers feared revenge once their father Jacob died. They sent a messenger with a plea for forgiveness, wondering if Joseph had been waiting for this moment to settle the score. Yet Joseph’s first words cut through their anxiety: “Fear not: for am I in the place of God?”
By refusing to step into God’s role as judge, Joseph freed himself from the burden of deciding their fate. He remembered what his great-grandfather Abraham had declared in Genesis 18:25 (KJV): that the Judge of all the earth shall do right. This truth allowed Joseph to release his hurts into God’s capable hands.
Too often we cling to offences because we believe we could handle justice better than God. We rehearse the wrong, rehearse the pain, and silently declare ourselves the final authority. Pastor Folger reminds us that only God sees every detail and weighs every heart perfectly. When we acknowledge that we are not the judge, we step out of the way and allow divine justice to unfold in God’s perfect timing and way.
Look for the hand of God in our hurt
Joseph did not deny the evil his brothers had done. He openly acknowledged, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me.” Yet he immediately followed with a declaration of faith: “but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Thirteen years had passed from the time his brothers sold him into slavery at age seventeen until he stood before them as second-in-command in Egypt at age thirty. During those long years Joseph chose patience and trust. He waited for God to reveal His purpose, even when the path was hidden.
The same choice stands before every believer. When we are wounded, we can either fixate on the hurt or look for the hand of God at work within it. Joseph recognised that his suffering was not ultimately about his own comfort or promotion; it was about preserving life for countless others during the famine. When we adopt this selfless perspective, our pain gains meaning. We begin to see how God can turn ashes into beauty, not for our glory, but for His and for the good of those around us.
We must stop the cycle
In the final verse, Joseph makes a decisive break with the past: “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” Instead of repaying evil with evil, he chose kindness and provision.
Pastor Folger illustrates this truth with the story of Robert E. Lee visiting a Kentucky woman after the Civil War. She showed him the shattered remains of a cherished tree destroyed by artillery fire and waited for words of condemnation. Lee simply replied, “Cut it down, my dear madam, and forget it.” He understood that as long as the ruin remained in view, healing could never begin.
The same principle applies in our lives. Many of us replay old offences daily, allowing bitterness to poison marriages, families, and churches. Joseph refused to continue the cycle of hurt. He gathered his brothers close, provided for their families, and spoke kindly to them. This is more than forgiving like Joseph; it is forgiving like Jesus, who “when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23, KJV).
Conclusion
Forgiveness is rarely easy, yet it is essential for spiritual growth and revival in our churches and nation. As Pastor Folger closes in prayer, may we each examine our hearts and ask the Lord to help us release every grudge we have carried for too long. Let us acknowledge that God alone is the judge, look expectantly for His hand in every trial, and determine to stop the cycle of offence once and for all.
When we forgive as Joseph forgave, and ultimately as Jesus forgave, we open the door for God’s grace to flow freely in our lives, our homes, and our congregations. May the Lord grant us the grace to live this out faithfully, for His glory and the good of those around us.
