MEGA GRACE IS YOUR PORTION IX
Genesis 43: 1-17
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. Gen. 43: 16.
The story of Joseph and his brethren is a familiar one. He was hated by them right from the day he shared his dreams with them. He was initially to be killed but was eventually sold into slavery. He ended up in Egypt first in Potiphar’s house, then in prison for a crime he did not commit and eventually in the palace as the Prime Minister.
One would have expected that on meeting his brothers, Joseph will avenge the cruelty meted to him by his brethren but he did not. He didn’t exhibit any bitterness towards them. In fact when they met him in Egypt, they received both grace and mercy from their brother, Joseph, who was unknown to them. He could have punished them for their sin against him, but he did not. Joseph was merciful. He also fed them and met their need of food for Jacob’s family – favours they did not deserve. Joseph was also gracious. God is both merciful and gracious to us in the same way.
Mercy is thought of as the withholding of punishment that is deserved, while grace is the giving of a blessing that is not deserved. Hebrews 4: 16 says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We come before God in prayer to “obtain mercy” (to be spared from deserved judgement) and “find grace to help in time of need” (receive undeserved help). They are the two sides of the same divine coin.
We also have frequent opportunities to be merciful and gracious toward others. There are many people out there who have hurt us and have shown us cruelty. Rather than taking vengeance, let us take every opportunity to be like God: merciful and gracious. And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4: 32.
PRAYER: O Lord, I thank You for your grace and mercy towards me. I ask that you help me to be like You in being gracious and merciful to other people in Jesus name.
