Title: People of Reconciliation on June 28
Contents
Genesis 45:1-15
A few days ago, I heard from my wife that “my mom has big news”. My mother-in-law has seven children, and when the Han River Bridge broke on June 25, the other family members crossed south to the Han River to escape, but only the third brother was taken to North Korea without being able to cross. However, it was said that the second brother was living in North Korea at the age of eighty-two years old, and a request to confirm whether his younger brother was alive in South Korea came through the Red Cross.
The song '6.25 Song', which was sang to the generation who did not experience 6.25, saying, “Oh, how can we forget that day” has long since become a forgotten song. Clearly, the situation of inter-Korean confrontation continues, and the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula, which is in tension over the North Korean nuclear issue, does not guarantee a future enough to sing a song of peace.
In the Korean War, 244,663 civilians died, 128,936 massacred, 303,212 missing, 138,000 military deaths, 20,000 missing, 2,000 student soldiers, 3,800 police officers , 500,000 confirmed deaths, 800,000 total victims including those who have passed away, and 7.6 million separated families.
In addition, the UN forces killed 57,615 (54,246), wounded: 115,312 (103,284), missing: 2,232 (739), and captured: 6267 (4853).
More than 2 million people died, including both abductees and UN forces. As we approach the 59th anniversary of the 6.25 outbreak, how much do we value the freedom and peace we enjoy at the cost of countless sacrifices? Also, shouldn't we ask ourselves what we can do for the North Korean people, who are still not guaranteed freedom of faith and human rights, and make it a topic for prayer? Now that the divided lands have not been united for half a century and the wall of ideology has been erected, we should dream of a peaceful Korean Peninsula where we can enjoy the values of freedom and peace.
Through Joseph, the man of reconciliation, I would like to share what is the key to reconciliation in this divided and tough age.
key to reconciliation
Genesis 45 shows the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers. Of course, this reconciliation was a one-sided victim, Joseph, who reached out to his brothers first. What kind of heart did Joseph have that made this dramatic reconciliation possible?
The first is mercy.
The opposite of mercy is judgment. Compassion is an act of showing love toward an object worthy of judgment. The Bible forbids revenge. The reason is that it doesn't solve the problem. Romans 12 says that it is up to God to take revenge. It says that God is the only judge. The Bible teaches that God is “a God rich in mercy.” “God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us” (Ephesians 2:4) Ephesians 2:3 says that we were by nature children of wrath. We are by nature deserving of wrath, and God has shown mercy to us.
In the 11th century, Francesco of Assisi, famous for the purpose of reclaiming the Holy Land in Europe, was opposed to the crusade when all Christian countries called the crusade a 'holy expedition'. “What we need to send is not an army of crusaders, but a crusade of peace that we love them.” So, I prayed the famous prayer of peace, “Let love be planted where there is hate.”
The problem is that we do not have a compassionate heart within us. Without compassion, we cannot love any more. I can't forgive you anymore. Rather, there will be only revenge, division, and strife.
Although Joseph suffered so many wounds and sufferings from his brothers, he did not keep the hatred and anger towards his brothers in his heart. He had compassion on his brothers. Look at Genesis 45:1!
“Joseph, unable to contain his affections in the presence of his attendants, cried out, saying, “Get everyone away from him,” and made himself known to his brethren, and no one else was with him at that time” (45:1).
Joseph cut the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept. I kissed my brothers and cried too. Even in the midst of many wounds and pains, the fountain of mercy did not run dry for Joseph. What we need is a heart of compassion. Have mercy on your brothers and sisters. God is a God of mercy. So ask God for mercy. Just as God was merciful to us, we ought to be merciful to our brothers and sisters and to our families.
Second, brotherhood.
Look at Genesis 45:3-4!
Joseph said to his brothers. “I am Joseph. Is your father still alive?” However, the brothers were so amazed in front of Joseph that they could not answer. Joseph said to his brothers. “Come close to me.” As they approached, Joseph said to the brothers: “I am Joseph, your brother’s brother whom you sold to Egypt.
Joseph identified himself as Joseph, the brother of his brothers. No matter how much someone hurts me, I must first ask for reconciliation and change myself first. In Luke 15, when the second son returns home after squandering his father's fortune, what does the older son say about his younger brother?
“This son who devoured his father’s house with prostitutes” (verse 30). To be more precise, it means “your son who bought his father’s fortune with a prostitute.” There is no mention of brother. But in 15:32, the Father says: “This thy brother was dead and is alive; he was lost and was found.” My father said 'your brother'.
North and South Korea must also start with this brotherhood.
One of the funniest Korean folktales is a story about brotherhood. After the autumn harvest is over, the older brother brings his own rice sheaf to his younger brother's rice sheaf in the middle of the night, thinking about his younger brother. The next day, the younger brother saw that he had more grains than his brother. So the younger brother thought, thinking how hard it must be for the older brother to have a lot of family, he carries his own rice pod and heads to the place where his brother's rice pod is located. This is the story of an older brother and younger brother who met each other one night while walking back and forth like this, hugging each other in the field and rejoicing.
It is a story that shows the brotherly love buried in our ancestors. In the past, if the father died early, it was natural for the eldest son to raise the younger siblings and pay the tuition. But these days, this brotherhood is almost gone.
In the Church, we call them brothers and sisters. We believers must first restore brotherly love. Brotherhood must first be restored in the Church. We have the same father. We have one Holy Spirit. I believe in one Jesus. So love your brothers and sisters! It is said that love is kind, love is not jealous, love is patient, and love is gentle. Love is a verb. Will. Even if you don't feel love, you can do that.
Third, it is God's will (providence).
See Chapter 45 5-8.
“But don’t be sad or blame yourself for the fact that my brothers sold me here. This is because God sent me here before my brothers to save my life. There has been a famine in this land for two years, but for the next five years, there will be no plowing and no harvest. However, God had sent me in advance to preserve their descendants on this earth and to save their lives by providing great salvation. Therefore, it is God, not my brothers, who sent me here. God has made me the father of Pharaoh, the lord of all his household, and the ruler of all the land of Egypt.”
The most important word here is ‘God’. The subject is God. I didn't sell you, but God made me that way. He said that he was sent here before the brothers to save the lives of me and my brothers.
In theological terms, this is called a redemptive history perspective. It is believed that God did all these things in order to save and preserve Israel and to accomplish God's work of salvation through his people. We often try to hide ourselves in solving problems when our relationship with someone is staggering and distorted. However, covering up the shisibibi does not solve the problem. Humans are inherently self-centered, so they do not admit their mistakes even when they are wrong. I'm wrong, but I'm hiding. I can't say a word of what I should say I'm sorry and run away. Joseph didn't care. He said that God did it. I saw it as the providence of God.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose.”
The providential view is that God allows even the seemingly unhappy things we experience as instruments for accomplishing His goodness. When we believe in God's sovereignty and trust in God's guidance, our lives become very generous. “God is in control of all this, and now I have suffered some loss, but God will change this for good.” Believe in God’s goodness, treat people with goodness, and still do good in an evil world and be generous, that is Joseph. It's the same life. Such a generous person later takes over the land, becomes a leader, moves the world and makes life. We should be that kind of person, and we should raise our children like that.
Yet Joseph's brothers were still afraid. See Genesis 50:15-17.
When Joseph's brothers saw his father's death, they said, “What if Joseph had a grudge against us and avenged us for all the wrongs we had done to him?” They sent a message to Joseph. “Your father gave these instructions before he died. ‘I beg you very sincerely. Even if your brothers have done evil to you, forgive them all their sins and transgressions.' So, please forgive the sins of your father's servants, the servants of God.” When Joseph heard this, he wept.
Joseph forgave his brothers. But later, when his father died, Joseph's brothers did not believe him. Joseph's feelings must have been stirred by the words of his brothers who still do not believe and say that his father even made a will. But Joseph says: See Genesis 50:19-21.
Joseph said to his brothers. “Do not be afraid. Shall I replace God? My brothers plotted evil to harm me, but as you can see now, God changed it for good and saved the lives of many people today. So don't be afraid. I will raise the brothers and their children.” Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke softly.
Isn't he really great? Joseph sincerely forgave his brothers. Here is Joseph's view of life. He is a winner in life. Some people said that the key to Joseph's success was forgiveness. Joseph knew a God who works together for good, a God who turns evil into good.
Believe in God's goodness! Believe in God's providence! Even in an unfair world, an evil world, a world full of pain, and a world with many wounds, we must live as reconcilers. You have to live as a generous person. Why? Because God will guide us.