Listen

Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m Joseph! Is my father really still alive?” His brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” and they moved closer. He said, “I’m your brother Joseph! The one you sold to Egypt. Now, don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives. We’ve already had two years of famine in the land, and there are five years left without planting or harvesting. God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way. You didn’t send me here; it was God who made me a father to Pharaoh, master of his entire household, and ruler of the whole land of Egypt.”

Genesis 45:3-8

Think

Imagine how difficult it would be for Joseph to love his brothers. They did everything possible that might make someone hate instead of love, and yet, Joseph chooses to love them.

When we make the choice to love when it is hard to love, it starts with naming the injustices, just as Joseph does. He doesn’t ignore what happened to him. Instead, he uses what happened in the past to make sure they know that it isn’t just the part of them that is connected by duty or blood that he is accepting but the whole of who they are.

If this is a microcosm of how God loves us – even the parts of us where we did wrong – how wonderful it is to know that we are loved so fully!

Sarah Karber

Pray

Loving God, help me to remember to choose love in all days, not just when it is easy.

Help me to name when a wrong has been done to me and when I have done wrong so that healing may begin.

Amen.

Go

Everyone is worthy of love.

I am worthy of love.