Reconciliation

 Genesis 44-46; Luke 18 

“Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, ‘Have everyone leave my presence!’…And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians hear him…Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph!…I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!…God sent me ahead of you.’”

Genesis 45:1-5

Reconciliation will often release the inner pain of conflict and broken relationships. Joseph’s outburst represented many years of pain bottled up inside of him. His brothers, including Judah who had conceived of the plan to sell Joseph into slavery many years before, had to process their guilt and shame for abusing Joseph. Reconciliation requires the truth to be spoken - the truth of who we are and the actions that brought separation. Reconciliation also is advanced when at least one party is considering God’s redemptive plan in the story of reconciliation. Joseph released his bitterness toward his brothers because he could recognize the hand of God authoring the story.

What reconciliation story is the Lord involving us in for his glory?

“Father God, thank you for reconciling me to yourself, for your glory.”