Healing Rays of Righteousness

Many of us live with a hurtful past that we can neither escape nor change. And for many the memories are so powerful that their recall brings deep pain to the present. Feelings of inferiority, unfairness, and anger well-up inside us. Suppressed fears once again grab a choke-hold on our life. The past haunts us and robs us of the peace and joy we desire.

The biblical story of Joseph is a proven model of how to best respond to a hurtful past that brings healing of mind, spirit, and relationships. That story is recorded in Genesis 37 through 45.

Joseph, the favorite son of his father Jacob, experienced a past filled with many hurts. He was raised in what we would today call a “dysfunctional family.”  Sibling rivalry filled Jacob’s household. Favoritism abounded and jealousy infected brotherly relationships. It became so bad that one day Joseph’s brothers caught him, threw him into a pit, and discussed killing him. One brother intervened and convinced the rest to instead sell Joseph as a slave to traders headed toward Egypt.

In Egypt, Joseph became the property of a man named Potiphar. Things seemed to be going better for Joseph. But then, Potiphar’s wife made continual sexual advances toward him. Frustrated by Joseph’s refusal, she falsely charged him with attempted rape, and he was imprisoned.

Years later, the Pharaoh had a dream that no one but Joseph could interpret. The dream revealed that Egypt would experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. To reward Joseph for interpreting the dream, the Pharaoh gave Joseph charge over all of the agricultural activity in Egypt. Seven years later the drought and famine began.

The drought and famine became so widespread and severe that people in neighboring countries came to Egypt to buy food from Joseph. And it was not long before Joseph’s own brothers arrived to buy food. Joseph recognized them, but they no longer knew their own brother. Joseph sold them the grain they requested, but he also tricked them into coming back to him several times before he revealed his true identity.

When he did identify himself as their brother, they were terrified. They remembered the pit and the time they bartered with traders and sold their own brother into slavery. They had every reason to be terrified when Joseph says to them, “Come close to me. …I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (45:4-5).

Joseph was able to make peace with his hurtful past and experience healing of mind and heart by choosing the following three responses of belief and behavior.

I. Joseph Practiced Forgiveness. – Joseph had been severely wronged, not only by his brothers but also by Potiphar’s wife and the forgetful cupbearer. Joseph could have struck back and felt the exhilaration that came from getting even. Instead, Joseph chose to forgive. Rather than reaching out in anger and revenge, he embraced his brothers. By choosing to forgive, Joseph made reconciliation with his family possible.

Although often difficult, forgiveness is the first step toward healing a hurtful past. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and removes the handcuffs of hatred. Forgiveness breaks the chains of bitterness and shatters the shackles of selfish retaliation. Forgiveness frees the heart to enjoy life to its fullest.

2. Joseph Lived in the Present. – Joseph chose not to be imprisoned by the bitterness of his past, but instead, to live in the present situation with his eyes focused on the future. (45:9-11).

Making peace with your past demands a choosing to let go of yesterday and actively live for today and tomorrow. Recalling and reliving the sorrows and hurts of yesterday does nothing but rob us of the possibility to experience the blessed wonders and beauties of the present.

3. Joseph Saw the Hand of God at Work in His Life. – Joseph’s ability to forgive his brothers flowed from his understanding of God having a greater purpose for him that overshadowed the hurtful events of his life. Joseph repeatedly declares his belief that God’s purpose, not his brothers’ evil intention, brought him to Egypt, reassuring his brothers that he does not hold anger toward them, and encouraged them to forgive themselves. (45:5-8).

Yes, life’s difficult and hurt-filled experiences are useful as God’s classroom in learning how to trust God and how to forgive others. Those who have journeyed through the dark valley of hurts and pain, who have suffered much but have chosen to forgive the past, can now look back and attest to God’s leading, providing, shaping, healing, and calling into a larger life and ministry of blessing others. I know this to be true because this has been my life’s journey and experience.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 7/10/24