Living in the Spirit
September 21, 2023
Scripture Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, “Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’ But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
I have said the Lord’s Prayer so many times in various ways. When I am visiting a church new to me, I try to wait and see what the congregation says regarding the line related to forgiveness. My congregation, a few years ago, started printing the Lord’s Prayer in the bulletin to help visitors. It is hard not to say the word we normally use.
The Greek word opheiléma means debt, offense, or sin. It focuses on the after-effects of an obligation*.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. I do not know the history of the use of the word trespass. It is not in Strong’s definition.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Sin is described as missing the mark or being separated from God.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. The Use of debt is included in the definition. Is it a part of human nature to liken behavior to money? Greed saved Joseph’s life when his brothers saw the opportunity to sell him into slavery. He was worthless to them up to that point. Of course, selling him did not make it right. The brother’s greed brought them back to beg forgiveness. They assumed that when their father died, Joseph would seek revenge against his brothers, and that assumed a financial loss. Instead, Joseph saw their actions as a means of him fulfilling his God-given purpose in life, to save people from famine.
Greed is a pandemic in our land now and getting worse. Christ-followers need to recognize its danger and our purpose in life to save our people from growing poverty and the destruction of climate change.
Prayer: Lord, Forgive us our sins. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/3783.htm
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.