Embrace the Race: Persevering Through Challenging TimesSample

Choose Mercy

When Joseph recognized his brothers coming to buy grain, he suddenly recalled the dreams God had given him. Now second in command over Egypt, Joseph finds his brothers bowed before him just as he saw in his dream. The last time Joseph saw his brothers, he was a teenager, only 17. Now more than two decades later, Joseph was a grown man with an important position. After years of slavery and imprisonment, Joseph had probably assumed long ago he would never see his family ever again. 

Forced to face his past and those who harmed him, Joseph now had to choose between mercy or justice. What should he say or do? Should Joseph reveal his true identity? Should he take this opportunity to get even? For four chapters (Genesis 42-45), we see Joseph wrestling in agony over how to respond. Joseph tries to draw as much information as possible about his father, younger brother, and brothers' remorse without revealing his identity, buying him time as he decides what to do. In the end, Joseph chose mercy.

Like Joseph, we have the same opportunity to show forgiveness to those who have hurt us. Jesus is our most significant example of choosing mercy when he took the punishment for our sins when he went to the cross. He was innocent, yet he took our place so we could experience God's forgiveness and mercy. In the same way, when given the opportunity, God expects us to respond with forgiveness because we have received God's mercy.

Daily Challenge:

When given the opportunity, would you choose revenge or mercy for those who have harmed you? Take a moment to pray for those who have caused pain in your life.