THEY CHOOSE TO STOP being your enemies! YOU ARE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE! You are the apple of His eye and your covenant with Him is everlasting, unbreakable and unbeatable. Israel: your enemies are also the enemies of our God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Selah.

ONE OF MY CHERISHED HEROES IN THE BIBLE IS JOSEPH, son of Jacob and father to Pharaoh. In fact, this same Joseph is so admired by me, he is exactly and specifically who I named my first son after!

Selah.

Now that’s the way to choose names for your children!

And as I was meditating on forgiveness, realizing every sin is inexcusable and forgivable save one; I thought strongly on the its biblical truth. Forgiveness comes with repentance. After all, no one comes into the Kingdom of God unless he has not only an attitude check, but in addition, no one can ever, ever become a child of God unless he confesses He needs our LORD God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth as his one and only LORD God Almighty.

And as I was thinking a lot about forgiveness again, often to me at times it sounds like God’s people believe they are to forgive everyone of anything regardless of the spiritual stance of the one inflicting the pain. Why? God doesn’t…  That precisely is why there are two kingdoms; two eternal destinations. I am speaking, of course, of Heaven and Hell. But what was on my mind was forgiving an evil person whom is headed for Hell. Does the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob want us to forgive a wicked man who cares nothing for God? Who doesn’t love us and repent? Who, indeed, would rather see us dead? Indeed, those demonically driven men who want to see the Israeli race destroyed? Heavens no! No! Joseph is a prime example of a Hebrew who wouldn’t forgive any brother: unless he witnessed for himself true contrition from him. Indeed, they had murder in their hearts and a plan in their wicked souls.

Selah.

As we read of Joseph in Genesis, those who study and meditate find that he is indeed a foreshadowing of Messiah. And what did he do with his brothers who wanted first: to murder him? Second: to sell him into slavery because they decided not to spill their brother’s blood? He tested them! This devout man of God would not forgive his very own family members until he knew they were changed men. Indeed, not only did Joseph first test them to make certain they were repentant for the evil they had perpetrated against him; he tested them a second time!

Perhaps much of this wonderful counselor of God was weeping deeply for the changed actions of his once murderous brothers, fully aware they were not his spiritual family, only biologically related. When the body dies the biological siblings may forever be separated due to their choice between good and evil. It is that simple.

So, no! Israel, you do not have to forgive you enemies until they choose not to be enemies of God and of you. Church: this same truth is for you! Forgiveness cheaply given doesn’t help any soul on his way to Hell. Every sinner needs to know the depth of their filth and the utmost necessity of God’s divine grace!

Selah.

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

Genesis 17:1-8
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,  “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.  No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.  The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

Genesis 45:8
“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Luke 9:1-5
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.  If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”