He Had Every Reason To Hate But One!
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 19:53 Kent E. Heaton, Sr.
As a young boy, his life was filled with love and honor. He had everything to live for and blessings were bestowed upon him in every way. His father especially showed his love as he was the son of his old age. To show his love for his son, a tunic of many colors was woven and given to the young boy. The boy’s life was marred by the hatred his brothers felt for him. They hated him so much they could not speak peaceably to him. Matters became worse when the young boy told his family of some strange dreams he had and how they would all bow down before him. This caused the hatred of his brothers to increase and they envied him greatly. The father pondered these matters in his mind as to what they could mean. Some time later, the young boy was sent by his father to see about his brothers. As he approached them, he was unaware of the hatred that had boiled over to the point that his brothers conspired together against his life. Saved only by the plea of an older brother, the young boy was cast into a pit that was empty. As the brothers sat down to eat they saw a company of foreigners coming by and decided to sell their brother for gain rather than kill him. In exchange for a pauper’s price, the young boy was lifted up from the pit and sold as property to a group of strangers on a journey to a distant land. Bound in security for the long journey, the young boy wearied along the road to slavery. No doubt thoughts ran through his mind as to the events of the day. One moment, things were calm and peaceful and the next he finds himself a slave to be sold on the auction block in a foreign land.
What has become of his beloved father and what would be the news borne to his ears? When would he be able to see the faces of his family and friends again? No answer would be given. The auction was finished and he was led away to serve as a slave.
This young man had every reason to hate his brothers, his life, and his state of slavery. Most of all, he had every reason to hate the God that he served for allowing this kind of pain and suffering to overwhelm his life. He had every reason to hate but one—he loved God! The focus of his life and the trial he would endure in the years to come would be guided by his love for God. He would succeed in the house of his master, only to be imprisoned on a false charge of rape. He would succeed again in prison, only to be forgotten for two years by an official he had helped.
It would seem that everything was against him at every turn. Yet, through faith and love for God, his life became an example of forgiveness and dependence upon God. The greatest measure of his love for God came the day he was made second-in-command of Egypt. Before him stood the same brothers, who many years before had hated him so much. Did he seek vengeance? Did he chide them? Did he gloat? NO! He wept! As he revealed himself to his brothers, he manifested the beauty of his soul by showing love and mercy. He took away their fear that he would do anything to harm them or their families. The most joyous day came when he beheld his father’s face once more. This young boy’s name was Joseph.
It would seem that everything was against him at every turn. Yet, through faith and love for God, his life became an example of forgiveness and dependence upon God. The greatest measure of his love for God came the day he was made second-in-command of Egypt. Before him stood the same brothers, who many years before had hated him so much. Did he seek vengeance? Did he chide them? Did he gloat? NO! He wept! As he revealed himself to his brothers, he manifested the beauty of his soul by showing love and mercy. He took away their fear that he would do anything to harm them or their families. The most joyous day came when he beheld his father’s face once more. This young boy’s name was Joseph.
“Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for I am in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them” (Genesis 50:19-21). Return to the story of Joseph and learn the meaning of the words of Jesus when He spoke: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12; cf. Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:21-35; Colossians 3:12-17).