Forgetting
by Becky Dietz
How did Joseph get to the place of forgiveness when his brothers came and bowed down before him in Egypt? They had despised him and sold him into slavery when he was 17; he was now 30. Joseph had become second in command in all of Egypt and he was the one his brothers had to see when they came to Egypt for food because of the drought.
After Joseph had arrived in Egypt, he was given a wife and soon had a son. He named him Manassah which means "causing to forget." Joseph said, "For God has made me to forget all my toil, and all of my father's house." (Genesis 41:51) But had he forgotten? As soon as he saw his brothers, strong emotions immediately rose to the surface. We never forget, no matter how much we try to stuff down those emotions. Never.
I once had a well-known godly Bible teacher tell me we shouldn't dig and do emotional healing. He quoted Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
He was basically telling me to forgive and to forget. I'm all about forgiving--but I believe we need to do the WORK of forgiveness.
Those verses in Philippians 3 are the verses of an athlete taking off weights, which would slow him down in a race. Paul isn't telling us to erase memories, but to release past offenses, burdens, disappointments, sins, or regrets from controlling our present and future life. How do we do that? We take it to God. We forgive 70x7. We cut and cut at those thoughts, offenses, and emotions until they no longer control our thought life when we think of that person who wronged us. We allow the Word to wash and renew our minds. We allow the Spirit of God to lead us to truth!
Joseph did the work. How do I know? His second son was named Ephraim, which means "doubly fruitful." Joseph declared, "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." When his brothers came to bow before him, he never condemned them. He'd already forgiven them and cut away every offense. In fact, he fell on their necks, weeping. (They hadn't recognized him. Of course, he was dressed like the Egyptians, but I also believe the emotional and spiritual healing had matured and deepened him.) He quickly told them it had been God's plan all along.
How do you not erupt in anger over such a terrible offense? How do you not DESTROY your offender? How do you declare God's goodness? How do you SEE God's strategic plan in using something so dastardly? I don't think you can...unless you've done the WORK of forgiveness. You can't just forget.
by Becky Dietz
How did Joseph get to the place of forgiveness when his brothers came and bowed down before him in Egypt? They had despised him and sold him into slavery when he was 17; he was now 30. Joseph had become second in command in all of Egypt and he was the one his brothers had to see when they came to Egypt for food because of the drought.
After Joseph had arrived in Egypt, he was given a wife and soon had a son. He named him Manassah which means "causing to forget." Joseph said, "For God has made me to forget all my toil, and all of my father's house." (Genesis 41:51) But had he forgotten? As soon as he saw his brothers, strong emotions immediately rose to the surface. We never forget, no matter how much we try to stuff down those emotions. Never.
I once had a well-known godly Bible teacher tell me we shouldn't dig and do emotional healing. He quoted Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
He was basically telling me to forgive and to forget. I'm all about forgiving--but I believe we need to do the WORK of forgiveness.
Those verses in Philippians 3 are the verses of an athlete taking off weights, which would slow him down in a race. Paul isn't telling us to erase memories, but to release past offenses, burdens, disappointments, sins, or regrets from controlling our present and future life. How do we do that? We take it to God. We forgive 70x7. We cut and cut at those thoughts, offenses, and emotions until they no longer control our thought life when we think of that person who wronged us. We allow the Word to wash and renew our minds. We allow the Spirit of God to lead us to truth!
Joseph did the work. How do I know? His second son was named Ephraim, which means "doubly fruitful." Joseph declared, "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." When his brothers came to bow before him, he never condemned them. He'd already forgiven them and cut away every offense. In fact, he fell on their necks, weeping. (They hadn't recognized him. Of course, he was dressed like the Egyptians, but I also believe the emotional and spiritual healing had matured and deepened him.) He quickly told them it had been God's plan all along.
How do you not erupt in anger over such a terrible offense? How do you not DESTROY your offender? How do you declare God's goodness? How do you SEE God's strategic plan in using something so dastardly? I don't think you can...unless you've done the WORK of forgiveness. You can't just forget.
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