The Lord will offer us opportunities to express our forgiveness to those who have wronged us. In God’s redemptive process, He will remove from our hearts any desire to take revenge. It is in that moment, that we will discover the depth of our forgiveness.

After Jacob buried his father, he returned with his brothers to Egypt, the very brothers who had sold him into slavery years before. 

“Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. ‘Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,’” (Genesis 50:15).

Joseph’s brothers sent a reminder to Joseph of what their father said to them when he was still alive, “Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly. ‘So, we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin’” (vs. 17).

“When Joseph received that message, he broke down and wept” (vs. 17). Since Joseph had forgiven his brother’s sins years before and demonstrated his forgiveness, their brother’s lack of understanding broke Joseph’s heart.

“Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save many people’s lives. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children. So, he reassured them by speaking kindly to them” (vs. 19-21).

Understanding the depth of our forgiveness is seen most clearly when we have the ability to punish those who wronged us and instead, choose to forgive them. The Hebrew word used here defines the depth of our forgiveness. It means to lift off of our offenders the burden of their offense. When revenge, not forgiveness, is leading our response to those who have wronged us, we will dismiss, even ignore, the supernatural work of God’s redemptive plan that can restore a broken relationship. 

Paul told the Romans, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God” (Romans 12:19). When we choose to forgive someone and not take revenge, God’s righteousness will appear and offer us a resolution that our revenge could never produce.