Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Father, forgive them for they know not XII

The first time we see the word forgive in the Scriptures is at the end of the days of the Patriarchs. Joseph is reminded that the father (Jacob) had commanded before he died that Joseph is to forgive his brethren. The brethren (Israel) had rejected the favored son and delivered him over to the Gentiles.

The next occasion is when Pharaoh, after the horror of the locust plague, calls for Moses and Aaron and confesses to them, "I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you." He then begs them to entreat the “LORD your God” to stop the plague. The LORD is Israel's God, not the God of Pharaoh.

We read about Solomon praying for the nation to be forgiven in the future. We hear both Moses and Daniel plead for forgiveness for the nation. And Jesus cries out for their forgiveness as well.

We are commanded to forgive and we are instructed to pray for forgiveness. God promises to forgive the nation. Upon confession, He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.

Only once in all the Scriptures do we discover a man in prayer saying the words "forgive me.” Those words were written by David in the 25th Psalm

It’s easy to ask the Lord to forgive others. I don’t even find it that difficult to forgive those who have trespassed against me. But for me to ask for forgiveness!--that would be to acknowledge my guilt and to admit that I’m the one who is in the wrong.


Mitch Triestman

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