Forgiveness -- part 2
Today we begin our second entry on the topic of forgiveness. If you did not read through last week’s blog where we set some groundwork for our discussion, I would encourage you to go do that first before you continue with today’s conversation.
Why is forgiveness so important? Why do you think the Scriptures emphasize the necessity to walk in forgiveness as believers in Christ?
I believe that forgiveness is commanded because of the great POWER that comes to our lives through forgiving. The power of forgiveness is its ability to bring healing to all the “trespasses” that come to us on our life’s journey.
As we read through God’s Word we can find many examples of the power of forgiveness, as well as the trouble that comes if forgiveness is not given to others. Why don’t we start by looking at an example from the life of Moses.
We know that Moses was “God’s man” and he was chosen to be the leader of all the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. But there came a time as they wandered through the wilderness that his siblings Miriam and Aaron actually betrayed him. They disapproved of Moses’ wife and they thought that they knew more than he did about leading. Because of their dissatisfaction, they started to stir dissension among the people but found out rather quickly that their accusations had consequences.
Numbers 12: 1-9 (NKJV) Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5 Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” 9 So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed.
Out of what must have been forgiveness of them on Moses’ part, he pleaded with God for them to be forgiven and for Miriam to be healed. God heard Moses’ prayers on behalf of those who had trespassed against him and the Lord healed the leprosy.
A second example we should look at is found in Genesis chapter four where we can read about the relationship of the brothers Cain and Abel. After Adam and Eve sinned, the Bible tells us that God gave Adam and Eve two sons. The first born, Cain, became a farmer and the second born, Abel, was a shepherd.
We all know the story that each son brought a sacrifice to the Lord. Cain brought some of his harvest and Abel brought the firstborn of his flock. God saw the heart behind each offering and because of this God liked (or preferred) Abel’s sacrifice (and heart) more.
Cain became angry and didn’t want God to tell him what to give. He wanted to decide for himself. This anger manifested from his pride and selfishness. He was jealous of Abel his brother and most likely also mad at God.
The Lord warned Cain that his selfish anger was dangerous but Cain didn’t listen to God or deal with his anger. Finally one day when he was in the field with Abel, Cain let his rage overtake and he killed his brother. Immediately Cain wanted to hide his sin and Abel’s death. When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain pretended not to know but God already knew that Cain had killed Abel.
Mothers of Nations, sin can’t be hidden from God because He knows all things. When God saw Cain’s sin, He was sad because He knew sin’s cost. Cain’s sin had to be punished so God sent Cain away from His presence. Cain’s refusal to yield to forgiveness over the whole situation led to being sent away from enjoying fellowship with God. It was a great price to pay for not choosing to forgive the circumstances that had so angered him
As we close today, have you ever felt that God chose someone over you? Have you experienced a time when you didn’t understand the favor that had been placed upon someone else rather than on you? As we remember that God is always looking at our hearts, may we continually endeavor to forgive and let go of all offenses and misunderstandings that come our way.
Blessings to you,
Dr. Sharon Predovich
