Repays Evil With Good

Repays Evil With Good

A HERO’S TALE

Joseph’s brothers were quivering in their robes.

They couldn’t believe their ears. The powerful Egyptian ruler standing before them had just claimed to be Joseph, their long-lost brother whom they had sold into slavery more than 20 years before. It couldn’t really be him . . . could it? Gulp!

Earlier, when Joseph’s brothers had arrived in Egypt to buy food, Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. The brothers had bought food from Joseph and dined with him without realizing who he was. (Joseph undoubtedly looked much different after living in Egypt for so long.)

Finally, Joseph couldn’t control his emotions anymore. On one of his brothers’ visits to Egypt, he blurted out, “It’s me, Joseph —your brother!”

His brothers were stunned. But amazement and disbelief quickly turned into fear. As Genesis 45:3 says, “His brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence” (NIV).

They remembered how cruel they had once been to Joseph. Filled with anger and jealousy, they had plotted to kill him before throwing him in a pit and selling him into slavery for a measly 20 pieces of silver.

Now, all these years later, Joseph, as Pharaoh’s second-in-command, possessed the power to destroy his brothers. But he didn’t. Instead, he threw his arms around them, wept tears of joy, and invited them to live with him in Egypt.

Despite his brothers’ wickedness against him, Joseph forgave them. He repaid evil with good.

DECODING THE MESSAGE

Have you ever said any of the following?

• “He hit me first.”
• “She deserved it.”
• “I’ll show him.”
• “Someone had to teach him a lesson.”

It’s easy to justify revenge, isn’t it? If someone wrongs us, our natural reaction is to want to pay him or her back. But that attitude is always motivated by sin. Retaliation never pleases God.

He wants us to act differently. We are to show love and respect to others, no matter how difficult it is. That’s what Jesus taught us (see today’s verse).

God wants his children to repay evil with good. After all, that’s what he did for us. We are all wicked sinners who have continually rebelled against God. But rather than repay our evil with the punishment we deserve, God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. That’s amazing love . . . and a great example to follow!

BATTLE PLAN

Seek out someone who has mistreated you and do something kind to him or her. Not only will you please God, but you’ll also shock that person!