The Purpose for Second Chances

Joseph said to them, It is as I said to you, you are spies; by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here! Genesis 42:14-16 (New American Standard Bible)

The account of Joseph in the book of Genesis has so many layers of truth. A favored son of his father was the despised one by his half-brothers. They could not speak kindly to him due to jealousy and hate. Eventually there came an opportunity for them to rid themselves of him and they took it. They sold him into slavery and led their father to believe he had been killed by a wild animal. Years later, they came face to face with this same brother, only now he was the prime minister of Egypt! They did not recognize him but he recognized them and put them through a series of “tests” to see if they had changed.

I use to read this story and limit the tests to showing Joseph there had been a change in them. Now I am seeing it with a much broader view. The tests were also to show the brothers themselves that they had in fact changed. When I read the entire account I am left wondering if they ever fully realized the incredible work God had done in their hearts. For in fact, they were very different men but failed to fully embrace that truth and enjoy the rich forgiveness and relationship Joseph continually offered them.

God had repeated a scenario in their lives to demonstrate to them and others that He had done a work in them. God still does the same in our lives today. Once He has brought us through a difficulty, weakness, or failure, He will often times allow us to step back into a similar experience in order to reveal that change has taken place. He wants us to realize we are not the same person we were and if we can come to see that, then we can live with a joy and freedom that wasn’t ours in the past.

Tears filled my eyes as this truth came home to me yesterday. Having failed in a former relationship due to huge dependency issues, God has once again introduced significant people into my life and I was left wondering why He would ever trust me with such relationships given my past track record. That is when He let me know He was doing so not only for encouragement but to show me that He in fact has been changing me over the past year or so. His intent is that I would see that deep and meaningful relationships are meant for me and He will continue to help me enjoy them in a balanced and healthy way. I marvel that I have been given a “second” chance at receiving the precious gift of friendship. The heart I felt could not be trusted (my own) is the very heart God knows and is faithfully developing through countless ways. I am both undeserving and grateful!

Father, You have given me something I never thought I would ever see again. I see the change in me and trust You to bring about even more change. What a faithful God You are! Amen.

I'm Not Who I Was - Brandon Heath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3SjCuSkaNs&feature=related