Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Evil That Men Do!
Text: Leviticus 19: 17a – 18
17a Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. 18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD. Amen
Do you remember the much hatred Jacob’s elder sons had for Joseph? It was so unbearable they just couldn’t put up with his “annoying” personality for another day. They had just plotted to kill him but Reuben intervened. He would rather they sold him off to a distant land. They did exactly that without any remorse and lied to their ageing father that a wild animal had devoured his favourite son.
Now, several years had passed and they still carried the guilt. To the extent that when the search for food took them all the way to Egypt, they still carried the guilt. As Joseph, now Prime Minister, pretended to give them a hard time in the guise of a difficult Egyptian official, “the brothers said to one another:
“Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.” (Gen 42: 21- 23)
Much later, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and assured them of his forgiveness for what they did to him. He also requested that they (together with their father) move to Egypt where they would be well catered for. This they did and, for several more years, lived in absolute peace and abundance.
However, with time, Jacob died. “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen 50: 15- 21)
Beloved, so you see now, the evil that men do lives after them. How many years had it been and yet their conscience wouldn’t stop plaguing them. Especially when the Joseph they sought to destroy years ago repays them now with so much good. Joseph understood better that God allowed him to suffer for His (God’s) good purpose but his brothers couldn’t even forgive themselves.
No wonder the book of Proverbs 25: 21- 22 encourages us to do good to those who hate us. For in doing so, coals of fire are heaped on their heads and God rewards us for the love. Begin to pray now. Ask for a heart that is full of forgiveness and love for all who hurt you consciously or otherwise. Also, ask for a heart that seeks only the good of others; to love them as yourself. If you have hurt anyone, seek forgiveness from God and from them.
For the wages of sin is death and the evil that men do lives after them. Don’t go to the grave carrying so much guilt as many have done. Seek the good of all, seek forgiveness from God and those you hurt. LIVE LIKE JESUS; LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD!
