I’ve been betrayed and there’s a good chance you have, too. Perhaps by a spouse or a close friend. A parent or guardian. A co-worker or employer. Or someone else somewhere along the way. How does God want us to respond to betrayal? What do we need to understand if we’re going to come out the other side with God’s peace, even joy? Find out in today’s post.
We’ll also look at the importance of not adding to or taking away from the Word of God and the result of doing so.
Welcome to Soul Survival where I blog through the Bible in a Year along with Bible studies and other Christian living posts. This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each Bible in a Year post. And … this year I’m also reading through the Bible on YouTube. You can check out my channel here. The daily emails now have a link to both the Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. I hope you’ll sign up.
Today’s Readings:
Genesis 45 & 46
Psalm 12.3-4
Proverbs 4.14-17
Matthew 15.1-20
When You’ve Been Betrayed!
Genesis 45 & 46:
Betrayal & the Sovereignty of God
We’ve been reading the Joseph narrative from Genesis: how as the favored son, his jealous older brothers sold him into slavery and allowed their father to believe he had been killed by wild animals. He ended up in Egypt, first as a slave, but eventually as second in command under Pharaoh.
If you don’t know the story, you can read it for yourself in Genesis 37-50. You might also want to read my last few posts (Jan. 19, 20, 21, 22). It is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Joseph is a wonderful example of how to respond to tests and trials, what it means to overcome evil with good, and what trusting in the sovereignty of God looks like. Now back to the story.
Years later, a great famine brought Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy grain. He recognized them immediately, but they had no idea who he was. Remember he was only a youth when they sold him to slave traders, years had passed, he looked and dressed like any other Egyptian official and they believed he was dead.
In the last couple of chapters of Genesis, Joseph had been testing them, perhaps to see if they had changed, but he could stand it no longer:
¹Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence (45.1-3).
Can you imagine the shock his ten older brothers must have experienced? But what a reunion for him and his younger brother, Benjamin.
Joseph & Benjamin
14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him (45.14-15).
The most amazing part of this story is what John MacArthur calls “a masterpiece of recognition of and submission to the sovereignty of God” (MacArthur Daily Bible).
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt (45.4-8).
Think about it. Fifteen years had passed since that day when his brothers betrayed him. There were ten of them—older and stronger. They had thrown him into a pit. Imagine the terror of overhearing them arguing about whether or not to kill him and what they would tell their father. Later we learned that he pleaded with them, but they wouldn’t hear it (Gen. 45.21). In fact, they sat down to have lunch while they debated his fate (Gen. 37.25)!
Betrayed & Alone
Then there was the long journey to Egypt. Did he hope they might change their minds and come after him? But no rescue.
At some point, Joseph must have decided to make the most of his circumstances and the Scripture says, “The Lord was with him” (Gen. 39.2). He served his master Potiphar well, rising to the job of chief steward, and was loyal even in the face of temptation. Then he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Even there he was faithful and ended up being given a position of responsibility.
Even so, imagine the nights spent lying awake and wondering why? Why would his brothers do such a thing? Why would God allow it? When did he surrender it to God? We don’t know, but without a point of surrender, he could not have responded as he did.
When We’re Betrayed
I’ve been betrayed and there’s a good chance you have, too. Perhaps by a spouse or a close friend. A parent or guardian. A co-worker or employer. Or someone else somewhere along the way.
How do you respond when you’re betrayed? How did you answer those questions in the introduction? Do you play that video over and over in your mind, allowing it to burn into your brain, turning to anger, then bitterness? Or do you surrender it to God? Do you view it through the sovereignty of God or simply through your feelings? How does Joseph’s response to his brothers impact and apply to your life and mine when we’re betrayed?
Remember, God included these stories in large part so we could learn and grow from them (Rom. 15.4-6).
But Joseph’s story didn’t end there.
Guess What, Dad?
Now imagine that moment when Joseph told his stunned brothers, “… do not, therefore, be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45.5).
They had probably spent years thinking about what happened, years of guilt, possibly regret, as they saw their father’s grief. And when something bad happened, wondering if it was payment for what they had done:
… We are truly guilty concerning our brother … therefore this distress has come upon us (Gen. 45.21).
Don’t forget Judah had lost two sons of his own (Gen. 38.6-11). Maybe that was why he refused to let the third marry Tamar (Gen. 38.26). Was he afraid partly because of his own sin and guilt?
What they had done most likely affected them greatly. And now, they would have to go home, and not only tell their father the good news but the rest of the story.
I’m only surmising, but think about what the conversation might have been like on the way home:
“What do you think Dad will do when he finds out?”
“It’s your fault!”
“No, it’s yours!”
“I told you not to do it.”
“What if it’s a trap and once we get back he’ll arrest us and have us thrown into prison or killed?”
“Dad’s going to disown us!”
Maybe in some ways, it was a relief.
We don’t know the details of that conversation, but we’ll see that in the coming years, the brothers would continue to struggle to believe Joseph had truly forgiven them for how they had betrayed him. It must have seemed too good to be true.
But isn’t that our story?
Too Good Be True!
Have you ever thought about the fact that God was willing to forgive us for all the ways we have betrayed Him? Even as a believer, I know I have betrayed Him many times.
We should never lose sight of the fact that our forgiveness is almost too good to be true, as well!
We did nothing to earn it and can do nothing to keep it. Understanding that should change us and give us the will and the desire to do what pleases Him. When it comes to hurt and betrayal, God asks us to take the forgiveness we’ve been given and extend it to others, even the worst of sinners (Eph. 4.32).
If you’re struggling in that area, study God’s forgiveness, contemplate His grace in your life, and ask Him to help you extend grace and forgiveness to those who have hurt or betrayed you. And if you need help walking through the process, talk to a pastor or biblical counselor.
Note: Forgiveness doesn’t always entail contact with the other person. There are some situations (sexual or physical abuse, i.e.) where it would not be wise. But forgiveness is still expected and made possible by the Lord.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 12.1-8:
In Our Wretchedness
We were once like those talked about here:
… the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’ (vv. 3-4).
But God didn’t just ignore our pride and rebellion. He paid for it, redeemed us, and bought us back from slavery. Truly too good to be true!
There is a qualifier though. We must come to the place where we see our desperate need, like the believers of another generation used to say—our wretchedness. We must agree with God that we are sinners: adulterers, liars, thieves, blasphemers, and murderers and that we have betrayed Him repeatedly. Then we must ask for His forgiveness and surrender our lives to His Lordship (Rom. 10.9-10).
No one can be good enough (Rom. 3.10-12). We can’t earn our way to heaven. Not all roads lead to God (Jn. 14.6).
If you are not sure about your relationship with God, pray and ask Him to grant you repentance, to draw you to Himself, and to save you (Rom. 10.13). Then find a Bible-teaching church so you can grow and understand His will for you.
And if you need help finding a church or have questions, leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Proverbs 4.14-17:
Don’t Start Down the Wrong Road
Do not enter the path of the wicked … for they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence (vv. 14, 17).
This is a warning to not even start down that road. Sin is sometimes wrapped in an attractive package, but it has a hook in it (Jas. 1.14). It can end up taking us farther than we ever thought we could go, keeping us there longer than we thought we would stay, and costing us more than we ever thought we would pay.
Matthew 15.1-20:
Staying on the Line
Some time ago, I listened to a lesson about teaching the Bible from Simeon Trust. The first lesson is called “Staying on the Line” about the importance of not adding to or taking away from God’s Word when we read, study, or teach it to others (Deut. 4.2; Rev. 22.18).
But, unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Pharisees did and Jesus addressed in this particular passage:
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
They had done it in two ways in this particular chapter. The command from Exodus about hand washing had to do with the High Priest in his role in the temple but they had added to God’s Word by trying to apply it to everyone.
Jesus went on to point out another area where they had done the same thing:
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
They got around the command to honor their parents by claiming to give whatever they might have given their parents to God instead. They added their own religious tradition and took away the clear command of God. And, in so doing, actually made the Word of God void. It’s no wonder Jesus rebuked them so often.
They were supposed to be leading the people but were actually leading them astray. As He told His disciples, “they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (v.14).
May God help us to never do the same.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about parenting, sleeping with frogs, and what to do when you try trusting God and things get worse.
I hope you’ll join me and, if you haven’t already, take the challenge to read through the Bible with me this year. Even though we may do it imperfectly or miss a day here and there, I find when we set it as a goal, we read far more of God’s Word than we would otherwise. I know we all get far too much email these days but having the daily devotion pop up in your inbox each day can serve as a general reminder to get into God’s Word. It goes out at 6 a.m. MST.
You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, and now listen on YouTube. Just click on the social media icons or go to my YouTube channel.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year
since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout
those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about
the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says,
“God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but
that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the
Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for
the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the
Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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