Joseph and Forgiveness

“So do not fear; I will

provide for you and

your little ones.’ Thus

he comforted them and

spoke kindly to them.”

Genesis 50:21 ESV 

Viewpoint: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:19-21 ESV 

“Why would Joseph forgive his brothers?” Mohammad asked his Christian friend. “They tried to kill him. If my brothers tried something like that, I wouldn’t forgive them; I would try to kill them instead. In Islam, if someone murders one of your family members and gets caught, your family has two choices: they can have that person killed, or that person must pay your family a certain amount of money. There is no forgiveness. Only Allah can forgive sins.” 

Saudi Muslims have a different thought process than Christians about forgiveness. They believe that Jesus couldn’t and wouldn’t die for others’ sins. According to Islam, there are certain things people must do on their own to seek God’s forgiveness. They also believe that human forgiveness isn’t possible because only God can forgive. Saudis and other Muslims need their hearts and minds opened to the meaning of forgiveness. They need to hear and understand that God’s forgiveness can only come through Jesus and that the love of God can enable them to forgive others.  

Pray Points: Pray that many Saudi Muslims and other Muslims will hear Joseph’s story and understand what forgiveness is. Ask that they will then be ready to hear how Jesus died for their sins so they will know that there is forgiveness and live in a right relationship with God and others.