I continue this morning in Genesis and am staying with Joseph. I am in the passage of his testing of his brothers and revealing himself to them.
Joseph had every right to be angry with his brothers, as they sold him into slavery. Over time Joseph had grown in position and stature and was certainly in the right as with the world view to seek and get back at them for their actions toward him. In verses 1-34 of Genesis 44 we see that he is indeed working to get back at them through his testing of them. But, he only works toward getting back at them and stops short of completion. Joseph recognizes that his brothers love their father and are truly sorrowful for what they had done.
Joseph had every right to be angry with his brothers, yet when he saw that they were sorrowful, his anger turned to sorrow and then to love as he revealed himself to them and demonstrated the forgiveness that only the LORD could provide for him to demonstrate.
“4So Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me, please.’ And they came near. And he said, ‘I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.’” – Genesis 45:4-7 (ESV)
Joseph was justified to be filled with anger in the moment. He had done nothing to deserve the treatment from his brothers as they sold him. Yet, he did not allow that to control him and was able to see that God was controlling the entire scenario from the beginning. The LORD had allowed him to be sold by his brothers. The LORD had brought him to Pharaoh. The LORD had given him position. The LORD had brought his brothers and family back to him.
I see this morning that love should be allowed to overcome anger. And not just that is should overcome, but ultimately it will overcome. I have to allow love to come through in all situations. I may have anger and it could be justified based on the situation, but I have to allow the love of God to come through and overcome the anger as only it can. I have to embrace that the LORD is love and that He controls all, right from the beginning.
What is your approach to anger? Are you allowing it to be that which overcomes? What if you recognize that the LORD is indeed in control from the beginning and allow His love to overcome your anger as it should?
Trevor's Thoughts 