As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20 ESV)
The End
In baseball, a batter might place a particular kind of hit in which he almost purposefully allows himself to get put out, but in doing so allows another player to advance around the diamond, and even score. It is called a sacrifice.
In chess, a piece might be advanced to a particular position that causes the opponent to take that piece. But in so doing, the sacrificed piece creates an opening that allows victory.
Every day I endure the pain of insulin injections so that my body can receive necessary sustenance.
But at the moment of the player being thrown out, or the chessman being destroyed, or my flesh cringing at the needle… it is common and normal for the pain to outweigh the eventual gain.
And so the player might be angry at the shortstop. The sacrificed Knight might be angry at the attacking Bishop. My nerve ending might be angry at the syringe.
But when the whole picture is enjoyed… forgiveness is natural.
So, Joseph, seeing what God had really done, was able to forgive the terrible, hateful, inexcusable violence of his brothers.
It is trust in God that allows us to forgive our tormentors. The God who loves His people, and is leading us towards Him. In the best way possible, even when it is through some very difficult obstacles.
His plan is not just a sort of good plan, that cleans up the mess of our lives in the nick of time. His plan is exactly what we need. And we WILL see and understand that. Even though now we do not.
It is accepting that He, like the baseball coach, like the chess-player, like my doctor, knows what HE is doing. And that it is good.
And knowing that can help us forgive those who seem unforgiveable. Just like Joseph’s brothers were unforgiveable. But really, they were.
Forgiveness is hard when my eyes see the cruelty, malice, thoughtlessness, and ill-will in those who hurt me or the ones I love. But forgiveness is possible when I trust God’s sovereignty.
Forgiveness is possible.
Because of God.