City Life Starter

I. The Word: Genesis 45:4-5

“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

II. Study Questions

1. Have you ever been hurt in the church?

2. If so, did you respond with forgiveness or contempt?

3. What are your expectations of the spiritual family?

Today’s text comes from the story of Joseph in The Book of Genesis. Joseph’s father, Jacob, highly favored Joseph over his brothers. This made Joseph’s brothers angry, so they attempted to get rid of him by stripping off his garments, throwing him into a pit, and selling him into slavery. Long story short, Joseph becomes second in command over all of Egypt, and his response to his brothers when they unknowingly beg him for food is astonishing. Despite the exceptional harm they have caused him, he ultimately affirms their relationship as brothers and offers to abundantly provide for all their needs. He also urges them to forgive themselves because the Lord has redeemed their sin for His glory. He doesn’t condone their sinful actions as righteous but also doesn’t run away from his relationship with them. They are family, and will always be family.

In the Old Testament, we see God establish a biological family to represent Him, and now we can have that same family with all who accept Christ! It’s beautiful, but family is hard and dysfunctional at times. We seem to expect this in our natural families, yet have unrealistic ideals for our church families. Though our Spirit-empowered family should aim to love without bounds, we need the Spirit because we’re fallen people who are bound to hurt each other. If you wouldn’t disown your natural brother/sister for causing you pain, then why would you disown your spiritual brother/sister for the same?

What Joseph’s brothers did was unequivocally wrong, and we should never condone wrongful actions in our community. However, don’t be deceived into thinking Christian community should feel perfect and pain-free. The expectation that church community will never hurt you is a damaging lie that causes countless people to walk away from Christ. It’s also quite hypocritical. How could we live life emulating Christ if we’re not loving other people when they transgress against us?