Pastor Chuck can be paged at 722-7513. The story of Joseph is a powerful story of reconciliation. The story begins in Ch. We all have heard the story, but it helps to reread the chapters to refamiliarize ourselves with the characters and with the events of the story. It is 'forgive and go forward,' building on the mistakes of the past and the energy generated by reconciliation to create a new future.
Reconciliation requires repentance.
Reconciliation, like trust, is built back over time. It takes a while for the pains of past hurts to ease to allow the restoring balm of forgiveness to begin its healing touch. The Joseph story points out clearly that the brothers had to be reminded again and again before they found themselves able to repent publicly and be reconciled to Joseph. This public confession of wrongdoing is a necessary component of reconciliation. It demonstrates that the heart truly has been humbled and the spirit broken to contriteness.