Respond With Grace
I dislike group projects. There’s usually one member who lags behind yet expects as much credit as those who do all the work. I was on a team several years ago when two other teachers and I were taking continuing education classes. We decided to develop a job placement program for our graduating seniors. Upon completion of the assignment, we actually implemented the idea into our advanced classes. It was quite fulfilling to help our graduates find jobs in the business world. But only two of us did all of the work, from start to finish, while the other fellow merely limped along. He got his A and promptly dismissed himself from any further commitment. But his tune later changed when our idea was published in a teacher magazine. It was hard enough seeing his name listed right alongside ours, but to make matters worse he suddenly became our spokesman. He liked the notoriety and claimed recognition for himself, as if he had come up with the idea on his own. It took a lot of God’s grace not to challenge his arrogance. But my friend and I swallowed our pride and tried to do the right thing. Believe me, it wasn’t easy! Life isn’t always fair. Injustice abounds. But someone once said that life isn’t so much about our circumstances as much as how we respond to them. Joseph shows us how he responded with grace in much more difficult circumstances than we’ll probably ever encounter. Study these scriptures for an interesting turn in his story.
Read Genesis 42:7-8
1. What did Joseph do when his brothers bowed down to him?
Read Genesis 42:9-13
2. Of what did Joseph accuse his brothers and how did they reply?
Read Genesis 42:14-20
3. How did Joseph test his brothers?
4. Why do you think Joseph was so hard on them?
Read Genesis 42:21-22
5. Describe the disagreement among the brothers.
Read Galatians 6:7
6. How does this principle apply to Joseph’s brothers and their treatment of him?
Joseph could have had his brothers killed on the spot. He responded to them with God’s grace but wanted to make sure they had truly changed. The brothers feared they were about to reap what they had sown. They remembered their brother’s distress when he pleaded with them for his life. They remembered their lack of compassion not only toward Joseph but toward their father whose grief was inconsolable. Fear gripped their hearts as they realized their brother, Joseph, now had power over their lives. How the tables had turned! We will continue to marvel at how Joseph responded to injustice in future lessons. But for now, stop and think about how you can extend grace to those who don’t deserve it but truly need it.
Joseph acted like he did not know his brothers – Joseph asked them where they came from – He spoke roughly to them while they were getting some food. Joseph accused his brothers of being spies – Joseph remembered his dreams – told them they just wanted to see the empty land – His brothers told him NO – just to buy food – they told Joseph they were true men and not spies – again they replied to him NO. The brothers would have to be proved – they had to leave the youngest brother – they should be kept in prison until the brother was brought – so their words could be proved – Joseph put them together into one ward for 3 days – the brothers brought the youngest brother unto Joseph so their words could be believed and they shall not die. The brothers talked among themselves about how guilty they were concerning their brother – Reuben reminded what he had said to them – Do not sin against the child and the other brothers would not listen. In our lives today it is the same with things – whatsoever we sow in this old world we live in – we will reap in our later days because GOD is not mocked at all. We all want to try to live our lives according to the will of GOD and his leading. When we come to the end of time – we want to hear GOD’S words – ENTER IN HEAVEN’S GATES. What a wonderful time that will be to hear our names called and you and I enter into the Gates of Heaven and walk on the streets of GOLD – fellowship with our loved ones who went on before us – WHAT A SHOUTING TIME THAT WILL BE.
Loved this lesson also – I remember times of working at church activities and a lot of the times there were just a few who really worked hard and the others would get the glory also – but by being quiet it would all come out good in the end – GOD knows everything and how things turn out in our lives. It is hard to keep quiet sometimes – but just remember GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING. One again such a wonderful lesson and many things to think on in our own lives now days. Thanks – Karen
Such a hard pill to swallow, but wonderful when you do. I had the experience both ways….giving grace when none was deserved, and withholding grace when it should have been giving. The satisfaction that comes from withholding is temporary at best….the peace the comes from extending undeserving grace lasts forever. Knowing you did the RIGHT thing always has it’s own reward.
Responding with grace. With the grace and mercy that God has given, shown toward us…that is how we should respond when others mistreat us or circumstances aren’t exactly the way we would like them to be. God’s grace is matchless, marvelous, infinite GRACE! Joseph demonstrated God’s grace with his brothers. He gave them the grain which they needed BUT also gave then back their money for it without them knowing it until they returned home. God graces us because HE IS GOD not what we can give Him. Joseph gave them the grain because he could, he was able because he held that position in the land. And he didn’t need the brothers money because Joseph gave the grain as a gift. Just as God gives His grace, as a gift because He loves us! Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”