Blessings in Disguise
of Forgivenes

Deepak Abraham, Bhopal

You are surrounded by unreasonable, self-centered, backbiters, and illogical, false friends who may smile at your face  and  become your enemies at your success. They attack you when you try to defend them and accuse you for selfish and ulterior motives. They can destroy overnight what you spend years to build it up. Can  you love these friends, help them or can you do good to them?
The Bible clearly says “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself’ (Lev. 19:18 cf. Matt. 22:39). Let us observe how forgiveness brings blessings in our life.

Forgiveness: Blessings of Provisions
If we want to conquer over those who cause us to stumble, who stand as a mountain before our success, who trample our dreams, who surround us like the whirlpool to wipe out our being, let us just forgive them because as Fredrick William Robertson clearly points out that, “we win by tenderness, we conquer by forgiveness.”

The Holy Scripture depicts the annals of Joseph and his siblings (Gen. 37-50), which tells us how his own brothers became stumbling blocks to him; how they tried to annihilate him. In our Christian walk, we may also face the same situations our own kin may turn to be our foe. Trampling over our dreams, who smiles at our face and becomes foes at our success. Let us love them, pray for them and even forgive them. As Christians we are obliged to do this; but the question is how many of us practice what we preach. God’s word says, “ No weapon forged against you will prevail.” (Isa. 53: 17)

Here from the life of Joseph it is clear that though his brothers planned to kill him out of jealousy and with evil intent, sold him as a slave to the Egyptians” ... but God intended to accomplish what is now being done for the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:20) Yes the forgiveness of Joseph became the blessing of provision for many. He conquered the heart of his people by forgiving them as Robert Browning says” it is always good to forget and it is best to forgive.”

Forgiveness: Blessing of Restoration
There are people who always accuse you for selfish hidden motives; their attitudes, deeds may prick you they even attack you, kick at your teeth even if you try to help them. Still can you embrace them, smile at them, speak to them? We feel very difficult to practice love and forgiveness in our day-to-day life; but Bible portrays the picture of Moses and Job respectively who forgive those who were backbiting and accusing them.

The book of Numbers12:1-2)throws some light on the people who accused and murmured against Moses who was leading and guiding them. They were jealous of his success. The book of Job paints a scenario, which shows how the protagonist’s own loved ones, turned against him. We find how three of his close friends misunderstood him and even his own dear wife who accused him for his own pathetic situation.

But these two above mentioned exemplary characters show that forgiving brings blessing of restoration in others life. At the same time, in one’s own life also. We also see here how Miriam was restored back to her normal condition when Moses forgave her and interceded for her. In Job 42: 10, 16, 17 we see that when Job forgives and prays for his accusers, God restores him and bless him twice as much as he had before. Above all Jesus taught us to forgive men who sin against us (Matt. 6: 14) because forgiveness is better than revenge; for forgiveness is the sign of gentle nature, and revenge the sign of savage nature.

Forgiveness: Blessings of Victory
There may be people who will assault you, even blow your teeth even if you try to help them. Can you forgive such friendly foes. Bible alone teaches us to pray for our enemies (Matt. 5:44) You cannot love and pray for your enemies until you forgive them as he who forgives ends the quarrel.

Let us ponder into the victorious life of King David, a man after God’s own heart. He was a faithful solider of his master, Saul; fought great battles for him. But later Saul was after David’s own life. David got opportunities to take revenge but he forgave Saul. 1 Sam. 24: 10-13; 26: 9-11. What about us? Just waiting for such opportunities so as to pull legs of others, putting others down? The spirit of forgiveness led the shepherd boy to the throne of Israel. He rightly expressed his experience in Ps. 113: 7-8: “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people.”

Forgiveness: Blessings of Renewal/ Reconciliation of Relationship
Dear friend, in your relationship with your spouse, children, fellow brethren, co-worker do we have thick and visible knots? If so, this is the time to untie the baffled knots and correct the relationship.

Never let the evil one to have an upper hand over your relationship. Let me summarize here that there is no disillusionment which can not be understood; there is no emotion which can not be expressed; there is no answer which can not be questioned; there is no depth that can not be fathomed; there is no guilt that can not be removed, when you forgive.

Glimpse into the life of Philemon a profound example of renewal of relationship with his run-away slave, Onesimus could be seen. Onesimus once was useless but now he is of great use for him. Jesus taught us a profound lesson on forgiveness. Jesus said to Peter “not seven times, but seventy-seven times” Matt. 18 :22. Christ forgave our trespasses, iniquities and reconciled and renewed our relationship with the Heavenly Father.