“JOSEPH – FORGIVENESS”

What my sermon is about this morning is the subject of forgiveness.

And, I’m not thinking so much today about God’s forgiveness…..my sermon today is an attempt to probe the subject of human forgiveness – our ability or lack of ability to forgive people the sins they commit against us. 

Now, the scripture lesson read to you today is the beginning of a  classic example of human forgiveness.  What I’ll do now is pick up the story where verse 8 leaves off.

TELL THE STORY

JOSEPH

Chapter I

·     Rachel – years of barrenness

·     10 half brothers

·     Jacobs favorite – robe

·     Told on his brothers

·     His dreams – he would reign over them

·     Decided to kill him - threw him in a pit

·     Sold him into slavery-bloody robe back to Jacob

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Chapter II

·     Rose in influence & power

·     Imprisoned/released

·     Pharaoh’s dreams

·     Becomes head of Pharaoh’s household

·     Imports & Exports

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Chapter III

·     Famine in Israel – Jacob sends son to buy grain

·     Little did they realize

·     3 days in imprison – sent back to Israel

·     Finally they all stood before him

So how did Joseph deal with them? Keep in mind that each of them wanted him dead except for his oldest brother…and all of them were a part of his being sold into slavery.

So what did Joseph do?

Well, it seems he just forgave them.

He just let it go.

He tells them not to be distressed – tells them that God was somehow behind the whole thing.

He overlooked their offences, even though they seemed to show no remorse or regret about what they did. 

How does someone who has been so violated forgive in such a radical way?  How did he just let go of it all?

Well, this event happened between 3500 and 3700 years ago.  And isn’t it interesting to think about it and to try to figure out how Joseph could be so forgiving.  At this level it’s just an intellectual exercise for us.

But it becomes more than just and intellectual exercise if we attempt to apply the story to our own lives.

It’s not just intellectual if we’re willing to ask ourselves the question…How’s the forgiveness factor in my life?

Oh, no one’s tried to murder most of us, and I don’t think any of us were sold into slavery.

But at one time or another most of us have been violated in some way.

Most of us have been hurt deeply by someone or by some others.

Most of us can look back to deeds committed against us which wounded our spirits so deeply and the scars are still there.

Maybe it was our father or mother or a brother or sister.

Maybe it was a friend, a spouse, or a lover who we trusted.

Maybe it was a teacher, a coach, a boss, a minister.

If you or I were wounded, used, violated, can we come to the time where at the deepest possible level we forgive those who hurt us?

What do you think?

Well I want to say just three things about forgiveness today.

Know right now that I have no misgivings about me giving you any final answers on the subject today but I can say three things with conviction.

First…THERE ARE SOME SINS THAT ARE VIRTUALLY TOO BIG TO FORGIVE…without a total miracle.

Daily News……Picture of a father holding a baby girl in his arms.

     Picture of Matthew Hall…a peace activist shot

          Dead in the Bronx……his parents picture

I HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES OF FORGIVENESS WHICH ARE DRAMATIC.

     Tony and Carmen…..she left him for another

          Man

     My Dad and Glen Floyd

Third thing…..

SO OFTEN IT’S EASIER TO FORGIVE THAN IT IS TO HEAL

We can know in our hearts what we are supposed to do.

We can know how God has always offered forgiveness to us.

We can see how Jesus forgave his disciples who showed such cowardice when things go real bad for Jesus…but he forgave them

And we know how we are to be and what we are to do.

And low and behold we are able to forgive those who hurt us

But that doesn’t mean the pain goes away fully.

That doesn’t mean we are fully healed.

It’s like wounds get covered over…healed on the outside but not down deep.

What I’m saying is that for many of us healing comes very slowly if at all

Ernest Angely….BE HEALED!!!!!!

Maybe this does happen with some, but with many of us healing comes very slowly.

With many of us we find it easier to forgive than to heal.

CHANT

   We are moving on a journey to healing

   Taking it easy…taking it slow

   No more worry…not even a hurry

   Nothing to carry…let it all go

SILENCE

And the people said…..AMEN

JOSEPH SERMON SUMMARY

FAVORITE      ROBE

TATTLE TALE     DREAMS…REIGNING OVER ALL     HATE

THE DEED    THE ROBE     THE PIT     SLAVERY

EGYPT     ROSE IN POWER    GOVERNOR, HEAD OF EGYPT’S GRAIN SUPPY

JUDAH      FAMINE     JACOB SENDS SONS

JOSEPH’S RESPONSE

MY COMMENTS ON FORGIVENESS

SOME SINS ARE TOO BIG TO HUMANLY FORGIVE    Daily News  little girl killed  in bombing           Matthew Hall, Hunter College student

FORGIVENESS COMES EASIER THAN HEALING

Earnest Angely    BE HEALED!!!!!!!!!!!

CHANT

We are moving on a journey to healing

Taking it easy…taking it slow

No more worry…not even a hurry

Nothing to carry…let it all go

AMEN

Amen.