December 12, 2024
I watch the local news every evening on television. Following the broadcast, the game show “Family Feud” comes on. It is a mindless routine and mildly entertaining to try to guess the answers. One funny thing about watching from a recliner is that no matter how loudly I express my responses, the contestants never seem to hear me or comply.
In all my years of watching “Family Feud,” there is one thing I have never witnessed: an actual feud. I am nonconfrontational by nature and would not advocate violence, but given the connotation of the word “feud,” you would expect a little tension occasionally.
Sadly, in many homes and even churches, feuds come quickly and frequently. The turmoil and struggles some homes face behind closed doors are no game. However, in the lives of genuine Christian families, hope and reconciliation are possible. Christ is continually calling us to forgive others who have hurt us.
One of the most redeeming and lasting insights a person can gain is realizing there is no such thing as a wasted experience. It is in the most challenging times that God will teach us some of the most important lessons that we would not benefit from otherwise. If your family is like most, there are some you only see at funerals. It may take a tragedy for your paths to cross. The crisis of the famine in our Bible study this week brings the brothers together in a fantastic turn of events.
Joseph was not the same man his brothers had deserted 20 years before. God had promoted him through life’s difficulties and used his circumstances to do many beautiful acts. Even before his brothers returned to his life, Joseph had already chosen to forgive them.
His brothers desperately needed grain but got more than they bargained for. They were unaware that Joseph had heard their conversations of remorse and brokenness.
Joseph wept, moved by the passing of time and the desire for harmony. The hand of God had orchestrated this moment of reconciliation, a testament to His power and grace.
By revealing who he was, Joseph chose to display forgiveness. How many homes, churches, and marriages could be restored instantly by the extension of forgiveness and mercy? The power of forgiveness is not to be underestimated.
It sees the big picture and the result. Joseph acknowledged God’s hand throughout his life. He had a graciousness that came from humility. “I am Joseph, your brother” is one of the most touching and powerful sentences in all Scripture. His brothers feared that Joseph would seek revenge but their worries quickly ended.
Joseph had lived with the understanding that God was in control and reminded them that there is nothing they or anyone could do to thwart the will of God.
In the game “Family Feud,” there is a winner and a loser. Each episode concludes with prizes. What about you? Is there any reconciliation or forgiveness needed in your life? Which “family feud” could you end today with a phone call, text, or lunch date? Do it, and you will be the biggest winner of all.
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This lesson was written by Bobby McKay, pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Morton, Mississippi, and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
