Remember and Forgive

Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.  “Where are you from?” he demanded.  “From the land of Canaan,” they replied.  “We have come to buy food.”  Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.  And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before.  He said to them, “You are spies!  You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.” [Genesis 42.7-9]

I would like to rewind back to a verse from yesterday's reading:

Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” [Genesis 41.51]

Fast forward back to today's reading...  A LOT was going on at this point in these brothers' heads!  Joseph was no exception.  Joseph had to decide whether he named his firstborn son in vain or not!  Manasseh was Joseph's reminder to forgive.

"Forgive and forget" is really not correct, is it?  True forgiveness carries permanence.  That permanence implies not 'forgetting,' but 'remembering' and choosing to continue to forgive.

Jesus has not forgiven and forgotten - He has simply forgiven.  Calvary will not be - cannot be - forgotten, lest our salvation is invalid.  The Cross must be remembered because that is our salvation.  The work of "dying for mankind" will never be forgotten because that work is depended upon by each and every soul since Jesus' crucifixion for the fate of all eternity.  When we stand before God, if the blood of Jesus is forgotten, then we are no longer redeemed and we are therefore guilty.

So, we depend upon God's memory of the Cross!  Thank God He is faithful to remember Jesus' blood-bathed work on our behalf!  This is good because when God remembers, He forgives.

So perhaps we should alter our little cliche "forgive and forget" and instead begin to "remember and forgive!"

Father, I am grateful that You remember and forgive!  Thank You for remembering Jesus and the Cross.  Thank You for remembering that You took my punishment long before I even existed so that I might choose to receive that forgiveness and experience eternal life.