Creator, Father, King #64

Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

JACOB’S SONS THOUGHT THEY were dead meat.

The man standing before them—the second-most powerful man in Egypt, one of the world’s greatest nations at the time—looked so different from the long-lost brother they remembered. Could this really be Joseph, the one they had thrown into a pit and sold into slavery—all because of hatred and petty jealousy—more than twenty years earlier?

Yes, it was.

But they weren’t sure at first. The decades in Egypt had changed his appearance. Besides, when they had first arrived seeking food in the midst of a widespread famine, he had concealed his identity, wanting to test their commitment to each other and see if their hearts had changed.

Finally, Joseph’s emotions overwhelmed him. “I am Joseph, your brother!” he exclaimed.

His brothers were shocked and dismayed. Joseph was in a position of great power and authority. Revenge would have been so easy. Surely Joseph would pay them back for their heartless cruelty years ago—wouldn’t he?

Nope.

Joseph wept with joy, warmly embraced each of his brothers, invited his entire family to Egypt, and explained how God worked through the brothers’ wicked deeds to save Jacob’s household.

What’s It Mean?

Revenge comes so naturally to us, doesn’t it? The idea of “paying back” someone who has hurt us is hardwired into our sinful hearts. But retaliation doesn’t please God. He calls his children to treat others differently, even when they mistreat us.

Jesus taught us not only to love others, but to love our enemies (today’s verse). It’s not always easy, but it’s always possible by God’s power as we pray for him to change our hearts. God wants us to repay evil with good, just like Joseph did.

The greatest example of this is what God did for us through his Son. Because of our sinful nature, we have rebelled against God since birth. But rather than automatically repay our evil with the judgment we deserve, God gave us the good gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, if we repent and believe.

Now that is loving your enemies!

Now What?

Put the Romans 12:19-20 principle into effect and show kindness to someone who has mistreated you.

Did You Know?

Colossians 1:21 says we were God’s “enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions,” before Jesus reconciled us to God.