13th Sunday of Trinity, Texts: Genesis 50:15-21

Sept. 11, 2011; 13^th Sunday of Trinity, Texts: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 14:5-9; Matthew 18:21-35; Title: Forgiven to Forgive and so to Live. Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We pray daily, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” “O heavenly Father, forgive us because we’re not loved you with our whole heart. Forgive us when we turn from your good to please ourselves. Forgive us because we think evil, and doubted your good will. Forgive us the damage we caused and the debt we owe, forgive all, as we forgive, so we are taught to pray.”  Forgive, bearing the cost of those who hurt us, who do us ill, who think evil of us, who damage our reputation, and who make us pay for their wrongs.  Is this how you forgive, or have you lashed out in tongue or deed? Is this how you forgive, obeying God’s word despite the cost? Is this how you forgive, trusting God will work all things to good? Or must we pray, “Our heavenly Father, forgive us so much more.” And give us strength so that we too forgive.

          Does He give strength to forgive?  Are we strengthened from having been forgiven, completely forgiven, not only for what we have done, also for what we shall do, and for our very nature of sin? Are we enabled to forgive because we are saved not by law but by grace? The answer is yes. And those who believe grace become witnesses of grace. On the other hand, those who refuse to forgive inevitably choose to live by law. For example, in Jesus’ parable, the man who owes the national debt says he can           pay it back.  He sticks with the law, even in desperation. And when forgiven, he throttles another servant for a few bucks; and as he wished, is returned to the law. He must pay. We can resent losing money. As a boy I punched my best friend for $10. I saw it floating around some construction debris first, finders, keepers, but he got it first, so he got it good.  How can we forgive? The short answer is in having been forgiven. The short answer includes all that is given to the forgiven, since forgiveness not only takes away sin; it opens the door to reconciliation, restoration, and renewal. 

          But you know I like long answers. So let’s not start with our text about Joseph but review his entire life; better yet, let’s start with Joseph’s parents. Do you recall that Joseph’s father Jacob, also called Israel, had two wives? Jacob only wanted one. But his father-in-law tricked him into marrying Leah, and then made Jacob work another 7 years to get Rachael. Leah had children, but Rachel none. Then they both gave Jacob their maids to see who would win the mass production race. At last, Rachel bore Joseph and Jacob rejoiced, in front of his other children. A few years later, Joseph was given a multicolored linen coat, unlike his brothers. Joseph showed it off. The coat reminded his brothers who dad loved best. His father selected him as the heir of the promised seed, the Messiah. It didn’t work out that way, Jacob’s way, but that is still a part of Joseph’s story. You know what’s next. Joseph’s brothers envied and resented him. They hated him because Joseph told father about their misdeeds. He even told them his dream; his brothers would bow themselves to him, their little brother. So they coldly planned his murder. By a lucky chance, they sold him into slavery instead. His distant cousins bought him and packed him off to far away Egypt.

          At this point, who needed to forgive and who needed forgiveness? If your circle “all of the above” on your multiple choice test, you get an “A.” What did Joseph do after getting dumped in Egypt? Did he say “Forget them!” And by forgetting, give up on the promise of the Messiah, promised from his father’s line? Joseph believed in what the promise promised, so he did not lose hope. He believed that from the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… the promised Saviour from sin would come. Therefore, Joseph waited for the Lord. And God blessed Joseph, so that all he did caused his master, the Egyptian named Potiphar, to prosper. Potiphar prospered and put Joseph over all he possessed, except his wife, but then Potiphar’s wife said to Joseph, let’s sleep together. He refused again and again.  He would not be disloyal to his master, and begged Potiphar’s wife to love her husband.  Joseph gave godly advice, but she slandered him and Joseph was cast into prison, wearing shackles and a metal collar around his neck. How could Joseph forgive this double trouble? How could Joseph not turn his           back on God, who by all appearances deserted him? Ah – the promise! But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison, and Joseph was put in charge of what went on inside the prison.  And whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

          One day, two of Pharaoh’s imprisoned servants had God-sent dreams. Joseph asked of God, and then interpreted those prophetic dreams. Then he asked the chief butler of Pharaoh: When it shall be well with you, show kindness to me and mention me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this prison. For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have done nothing that they should put me into the prison.  But the butler forgot Joseph, until Pharaoh had a dream, a vision about seven years of abundance and seven years of famine. Then the butler remembered Joseph. Joseph interpreted the dream and was raised to second in command in Egypt. For seven years he stored surplus grain in government storehouses. Then when the famine hit, his brothers came to buy grain, and his dream came true. Not recognizing him, they bowed before the master of Egypt. If you were Joseph, what would you do, if you stored up 20 + years of bitterness and resentment? But that wasn’t what Joseph put into the storehouse of his heart. Joseph, as one who believed the promise, the promise of forgiveness, had already forgiven. So his thoughts turned away from his hurt to the needs of others.      

          And he wondered what else had his brothers done to the rest of his family? Had they confessed to Jacob how they sold Joseph and set the old man’s heart at rest? Or had they, these 21 years, kept the evil secret, refusing to repent? Was Jacob dead by grief, had they killed Benjamin, his youngest brother by Rachael, who no doubt was favored by Jacob. Joseph questioned them and the brothers said, “We are honest men!” So Joseph tested them. He harbored no grudge, but knew if they did not repent all was lost. So he applied the law, calling them spies, accusing them of evil intent. He threatened them with punishment for a crime they did not commit until finally, their consciences cried out, We are truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he begged us, and we would not hear. Therefore this distress has come upon us… His blood is required of us. His blood is required. That’s the law, and that’s the cause of repentance, admission of guilt. With this admission, Joseph is overjoyed. He reveals himself and tells his brothers they are forgiven. He is their deliverer to provide for their families. His sufferings were God’s doing      to preserve the promise in Israel. What faith in the promise, in Christ! As one forgiven, Joseph believed the promise made to Abraham; those who believe are justified before God. Soon, Father Jacob takes his household to Egypt, for the Lord promised to bring His people back, for the sake of the promise. Years later, Joseph closes Jacob’s eyes in death. And when Joseph’s brothers saw that their Father was dead, they said, perhaps Joseph will hate us, and will pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.   

          What? After receiving Joseph’s continual care for years? Why did Joseph’s brothers fear their blood was still required? After their repentance, did they fail to believe in grace?  Joseph said the evil done him was the means of preserving the promised seed because he saw all things through the coming Christ. He knew his great grandfather Abraham was justified by faith, not by works. He heard that history sitting on the knee of his grandfather Issac. He knew the sins of his father, yet how the promise kept Jacob in faith. Then when Joseph’s suffering brought good to the ones who did him evil, he is content. He is content, not justifying himself by the law, but living as one justified by Christ. Joseph knows his sin. His contentment is in being forgiven, which gives power to forgive. As for Jesus’ parable, have you repented your sin? Did He not pay the universal debt of sin?  There you were forgiven all, and that changes everything, if you believe. For example, because we are forgiven, we believe what others mean for evil the Living Lord turns to good. If the Father gives life through the death of His Son, will not God take the evil done us and use it for good for the one that did us wrong?

          What if Joseph said, “Off with their heads!”  God would have destroyed Joseph to preserve his brothers.  But Joseph led his brothers to repentance, having already forgiven them. Then he blessed them.  That’s how we triumph over evil. We may even see the salvation of our enemies. That’s how God loved us. Which leaves us with a question, did Joseph’s brothers receive the benefits of grace? When Jacob died this is what his brothers said…  So they sent a messenger to Joseph saying, your father did command before he died, saying, so shall you say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you now, the trespasses of your brothers, and their sin, for they did to you evil. And now, we pray you; forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father. And Joseph wept when they said this to him.

          Literally, your father commands you to forgive now! The Hebrew is explicit. What is translated as “please” isn’t a humble request, but urgency, “do it now.” In the name of the promise, in the name of Jacob, they command Joseph to forgive – but forgiveness is not the           law. It is grace. How sad, they could have rejoiced for years, instead they were imprisoned with fear. No wonder Joseph wept.  Joseph blessed them for years, but they didn’t see it. His brothers, who disbelieved, asked not for grace, but for law. God the Father, for Christ’s sake, forgave you all your sin.  He wants you to live in peace, rejoicing in Christ, not held captive by the law. That’s why He announces forgiveness to you and me again and again; so that you are confident of His grace, certain of His loyalty toward you. That’s why we come to receive assurance in His body and blood, in eating and drinking Him who died and rose. His gift of peace grants strength to do what we cannot do in the flesh. We who believe the promise of Christ crucified for us, forgive. And his brothers also went and fell down before his face and they said, Behold, we are your servants. And Joseph said to them, Fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it to good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not fear. I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them. Jesus Christ, far greater than Joseph, paid the national debt we owe. He will provide for us and our little ones.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Amen)