Innocent, sold as
a slave he was, cast from his home of love because, of vile jealousy.
Innocent, hung on
the deadly tree, cursed by God for sin was He, for my iniquity.
Genesis 37 begins the full account of the life and ministry
of Joseph. When I taught at Bible
college my favorite class to teach was Christ in the Old Testament. We looked at prophecies, pictures and
profiles of Christ. The person whose
profile most often matched that of Jesus Christ was Joseph. There are over 100 comparisons of their life
and ministry. In the stories of Joseph
we will find a panoramic vista of grace.
Chapter 37 of Genesis relates the story of Joseph being so
hated by his brothers that they cast him into a pit and then sold him as a
slave into Egypt. We might pause to
think how we would react toward our brothers if they treated us so
wickedly. Would we ponder revenge on
them as we find done in The Count of
Monte Cristo? Would our life be
spent in getting even? That is certainly
a human reaction. It is a reaction that
erupts from our sin nature.
Skipping ahead in Genesis to chapter 45 we find Joseph’s
brothers standing helpless before him in Egypt where he has risen to be next
only to Pharaoh. They are hungry and
fearful. This is that great opportunity
for revenge. But Joseph didn’t take that
path. He offered them a home and
safety. He offered them a life of plenty
instead of a life of want. Joseph was
gracious.
Skipping further ahead to the Gospels of Jesus Christ we
find our Savior hanging on the cruel cross of shame. Around him are the tormenters and
accusers. They are in need of a new heart
and hope in God. Jesus looks on the
crowd and says, “Father, forgive them.
They know not what they do.” He
was gracious. He was dying for the sins
they were committing against Him and He was gracious.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 to “be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake, has
forgiven you.” Joseph was just a man
like we are, yet he possessed the Spirit of Christ as all believers do. By that Spirit he could be gracious. So can we.
Innocent, made by His decree, son of
God with Him I be, to show His victory.
For quality inspirational, educational, and fictional Christian books
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