Welcome Friends,
I remember sitting in school, taking tests — some were easy, but others were hard.
The hard ones meant long hours of studying, digging deep into the books,
and sometimes asking others for help or having them quiz me.
But tests don’t stop when school ends.
Life is full of tests — spiritual ones — challenging us, stretching us, and helping us grow
stronger in our faith.
Unlike school, when we fail a spiritual test, God allows us to take it again… and again, until we pass.
moving us into the next season of opportunity
This brings us to the story of Joseph — and the test he passed
At just 17 years old, Joseph’s father, Jacob, showed favoritism toward him.
This favoritism stirred up jealousy and hatred among his brothers
and when Joseph shared his dreams of them bowing down to him, their resentment only deepened.
Eventually, they threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery.
To cover their actions, they told their father Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
Let’s pause
What started it all? One lie: “Joseph is dead.”
What caused the lie? Jealousy
Jealousy can lead to lies
Lies then create an alternate reality, dragging the entire family into darkness until the truth is exposed.
Satan is the father of lies, and this family was now living under the authority of the father of all lies
⚠️ A warning: Never play favorites.
Whether with your own children, grandchildren, or in-laws
favoritism breeds jealousy, division, and conflict. It can damage families for generations.
The Test of Forgiveness
Genesis 42
Fast forward 20 years.
Joseph is now Pharaoh’s right-hand man, ruling over Egypt.
A severe famine strikes, and his brothers come seeking food.
They don’t recognize Joseph — but he immediately recognizes them.
Now imagine:
You haven’t seen your father in 20 years. He believes you’re dead.
You’ve been through slavery and prison, and now you stand in power,
looking at the very people who betrayed you.
Question- how would you react seeing your betraying brothers after 20 yrs?
What would you feel?
Anger? Bitterness? Revenge?
Would you mock them: “I told you you’d bow down to me — look at you now!”
Would you flaunt your success: “I’m rich, you’re poor. I’m powerful, you’re helpless.”
He could have had them killed, thrown into a pit, or sold into slavery—just as they did to him
Or maybe you’d be tempted to rush back into a relationship–“How’s Dad? Is he still alive?”
Joseph did neither
Instead — he chose wisdom
He didn’t rush into reconciliation. He didn’t punish them either.
He tested them — putting them in jail for three days to apply a little pressure.
When pressure is put on someone-what is inside, comes outside
bitterness anger vengeance violence ungodliness, or love mercy forgiveness change of heart
it is going to come out
Genesis 42:21-22 tells us what surfaced
“We are guilty… we saw our brother’s distress… we didn’t listen.”
Joseph heard their repentance — though they didn’t know he understood Hebrew.
When they admitted their sin and recognized their guilt, Joseph wept.
He had forgiven them long ago
Joseph may have started out foolish but over time, he grew into a man of wisdom
He now had a family of his own to protect.
He didn’t re-enter the dysfunction quickly, even for the sake of seeing his father.
He waited.
He tested.
He watched for true change.
And even before revealing himself, he responded with grace
Blessing them with extra grain, returning their money.
That’s the mark of true forgiveness: Blessing your enemies and pray for them
Forgiveness is one of the hardest tests we face, yet it’s also one of the most rewarding.
Just as Joseph’s willingness to forgive and trusted in the sovereignty of God
it took him from the pit to palace- second in command-overseeing a nation,
Our own forgiveness can also unlock God’s greater plans for our lives
Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Forgiveness is free — because God forgave you
Trust is earned — just like Joseph tested his brothers.
Some might say–“I don’t want to forgive them.”
That’s between you and God — not you and them.
Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation.
Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what they did.
Forgiveness doesn’t require you to re-enter the relationship.
Forgiveness simply means you’ve released it to God.
so you can move forward in peace and leaving the matter
in God’s hands
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger… be put away from you… forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Here’s how it was explained to me about forgiveness so that it may also help you on your journey
say someone stole from you- your money, your time, years of your life, your joy, your health-
whatever it might be–They owe you.
As long as you demand repayment or waiting for an apology, you’re still tied to them.
But if you forgive them, it’s over. You’re free to move on with your life.
Matthew 18:21–22 –Then Peter came up and said to him,
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times
Bitterness Blocks Blessing
When we cling to bitterness, we block the flow of God’s peace, healing, and sometimes even His purpose.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean what they did was okay
it means you’re no longer letting their actions control your heart
Some people desire restored relationships so badly that they rush back in.
compromising their integrity and ignoring that nothing has truly changed.
In doing so, they often find ourselves right back in the middle of dysfunction
or worse, in a harmful and dangerous environment.
While other go in the opposite direction,
hardening their hearts and shutting the door completely, convinced the person will never change
But wisdom lies in the middle.
Don’t rush in, and don’t shut down.
Be patient and place this matter in the Lord’s hands
You can love someone even if you don’t yet trust them.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 –“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Healing, trust, and restoration all happen in God’s time, not ours.
Trust Him — and wait on Him.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of Your Word, which gives us wisdom, guidance,
and powerful examples to help guide us in our own relationships.
We see in the story of Joseph and his brothers
How personal growth and heart change can lead to reconciliation.
We also see through Jesus Himself
How He walked away from the proud, hardened hearts and unwilling to change- like the Pharisees,
There are many other examples how He didn’t chase after prideful, manipulative, or unrepentant people. Instead, He invested in the humble, hungry, and teachable—those ready to receive truth
Lord, I pray for softening of hearts and I pray for teachable hearts
that are eager to grow and mature
Help us build relationships that are healthy, rooted in truth and in love
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I invite you to walk this journey with me
True change starts from within
Let’s open our hearts and allow God to shape us
so we can better impact the world around us
https://echosofmyfootsteps.com
