Text: Psalms 105:16
Psalms 105 16 He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; 17 and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, 19 till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true
Both were sold by one of the 12 named Judah (Greek 'Judas'). Genesis 37:26-27 Matthew 26:15, 27:9
Joseph was apparently put to death, and Jesus truly, by their own people to get them out of the way.
Genesis 37:18-28 Acts 2:22-23
Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph, Pilate wanted to rescue Jesus.
Genesis 37:21-22 Matthew 27:24
Joseph was sold as a slave to Egypt. Jesus was betrayed for the price of a slave.
Genesis 37:26-28 Matthew 26:15, Exodus 21:32, Zechariah 11:12-13
Both went to Egypt. Genesis 37:28 Matthew 2:13-15
Both were made slaves. Genesis 39:1 Philippians 2:7
Both were falsely accused...Genesis 39:11-20 Matthew 26:59-61...and punished.
Genesis 39:20 Matthew 27:35
Yahweh was with them both. Genesis 39:3, 21, 23 Acts 7:35 Acts 10:38
II. Total Forgiveness Makes Us Fruitful, What is total forgiveness?
The proof is when we sincerely petition the Father to let off the hook those who have hurt us.
Not only forgive them, but ask the Lord to bless and prosper them.
Because we too want to be forgiven, be blessed and to prosper. Mt 7.1, do not judge or you too will be judged. So it's in our own interests. Ps 103.12, my sins have been removed from me; they will not be held against me, and no one will know what I have done. So I will not hold others responsible for what they have done to me; and I will tell nobody.
III. Forgiveness is NOT:
Approval of what they did
Excusing what they did
Justifying what they did
Pardoning what they did (they may need to face secular justice)
Reconciliation
Denying what they did
Blindness to what happened (pretending otherwise)
Forgetting
Refusing to take the wrong seriously
Pretending we are not hurt
IV. Forgiveness IS:
Being aware of what someone has done and still forgiving them
Choosing to keep no records of wrong
Refusing to punish
Not telling what they did - just one other person, for therapeutic reasons
Being merciful - blessed are the merciful, Mt 5.7
Graciousness - the opposite of being rigorous
An inner condition - it takes place in the hearts. Most people we must forgive do not believe they have done anything wrong, or if they did they believe it was justifiable.
The absence of bitterness - you will know it's gone when you have no desire to get even/punish; when you do/say nothing to hurt their reputation or future; when you truly wish them well in all they seek to do
Forgiving ourselves - no joy in it otherwise. God wants us to forgie ourselves as much as he wants us to forgive others.
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