GOD’S ANTIDOTE TO BETRAYAL
Betrayal has unfortunately
been a player in most people’s lives. Devastating when it happens to us, it can
devour parts of our soul, and our bodies over time, if we don’t handle it
properly. How many of us, upon recalling a time when a family member, a spouse
or friend betrayed us, respond inwardly with anger, confusion or outright
bitterness? How do we get to the place we feel nothing, or maybe only pity for
the person? We see in the lives of Joseph and Jesus, two important aspects of
betrayal’s antidote. One is time, and the
other is mercy.
We read in Genesis 37 of
how Joseph had a dream of being a leader, respected by his brothers. He told
his brothers about this dream and his other dreams of grandeur, and His
brothers hated him for it. They were so jealous and angry, they planned to kill
him, but instead, he was sold into slavery in Egypt. Time passed,
and we never hear about Joseph being burdened by anger or bitterness over the
wrongful treatment by his brothers. He went through some trials in Egypt, but
then God blessed him so much, he spent his time in authority and abundance.
Joseph didn’t go back to
rail on his brothers or try to change their minds about him. Joseph just moved
on with the blessings God put in front of him. Joseph was only 17 when his
brothers betrayed him. He was 39 when he saw his brothers again. That’s 22
years. Time can definitely be a factor in
healing the bitterness of betrayal.
Over time, we get involved
in the things of God, and we get so busy in other things and other people, that
we just don’t have the extra time or
energy to mull over old betrayals. The Lord doesn’t want us to feel bad if we’re
having a hard time getting over the hurt. God gave us the lesson of Joseph. We
do the next thing the Lord puts in front of us, with all our might. The more
time that passes, the less the hurt is going to affect us.
Then when there was a
famine in Israel, Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt for food. They had no
idea Joseph was the overseer of all that food. Joseph was fully able and
willing to show them mercy.
Jesus Christ was betrayed
by so many people in his lifetime and is still being
betrayed to this day, but Jesus is a master of mercy. He was able to say
at his crucifixion, “Father, forgive them; for they know not
what they do” (Luke 23:34). When Jesus was betrayed, He didn’t need time as a healer like most of us do,
but He showed us a second great part of betrayal’s antidote: giving mercy. When we hold onto anger or bitterness toward
someone who’s betrayed us, we use the weapons of our emotions, thoughts, and words to stab at the person. We want to
wound them and make them suffer as much as they as they made us suffer.
But Jesus showed us that instead of harming
them, we should show them mercy. It’s supernatural, and it works wonders. Jesus’ way is to release the betrayers to God.
We follow Jesus and do the same. It’s an
amazingly powerful way to deal with betrayal. I’ve done this and found that
when we release them to God, they become a blank to us emotionally. The only
thing left is pity and the love of God.
It sets us free and them too – good for everyone.
God’s answers to life’s traumas and emotional
upsets are all in the Bible, and we are
so blessed to have it in our world.
Love, Carolyn
INSPIRATIONAL, MOTIVATIONAL WAYS TO EXPERIENCE
THE BIBLE TODAY:
WINGS: A Journey in Faith
from the Earthly to the Heavenly is a
compilation of stories—revelations and
guidance gathered from my experiences living as a Christian in Las Vegas.
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