A Relationship Fixer–Upper

“And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.” 
—Genesis 45:15

The word “restoration” is one of my favorites. I love the idea of taking something old and broken and making it like new.

One of the clerks at the Home Depot where I do most of my home improvement shopping owns a ’56 Ford pickup. When I see it in the employee parking area, I can’t help but stare. It’s one of the most beautifully restored vehicles I’ve ever seen, complete with its mid–fifties turquoise finish. Even though it’s a truck, my suspicion is that the owner would rather die than put anything in the bed that might scratch it.

The passage today talks about a different kind of restoration—a relationship fixer–upper. What Joseph’s brothers had done to him was horrible. Their hostility toward him as a teenager had led them to sell him—they had actually wanted to kill him but changed their minds when the opportunity to exchange him for cash money presented itself!

However, to earn this relationship with his brothers, Joseph had been an arrogant little spoiled brat, shamelessly strutting his stuff in their faces.

Now it’s almost 30 years later. All of these men have faced untold hardships. Things haven’t turned out according to plan for any of them. Maturity has taken root. And now Joseph stands in front of his brothers like my Home Depot friend must have stood in front of his rusted old pickup muttering to himself, “This one could use some serious restoration.”

Can you picture these grown men, embracing each other? Today’s verse tells us that they wept openly, probably with regret for the years that had passed without making things right but filled with sheer delight over the sparkling new finish on their family relationship.

My favorite part of this story is what they did after their broken relationship had been restored. They talked. There was so much ground to cover, so much to say. They couldn’t wait to get re–acquainted. Conversation after restoration is sheer delight.

Which one of our relationships needs to be redone? Which one is covered with the rust of silence and bitterness? Picture what it might be like to confess your wrongdoing, forgive them for their part, then sit down over coffee in luxurious conversation.

Wouldn’t it be great if people would gaze at this healing, like I do when I see that turquoise pickup? “What a tremendous restoration,” they’d say.

Excerpted from the NIV Dad’s Devotional Bible.

Bible Study

More
  • how to be a good citizen

    How To Be a Good Citizen

    What does it mean to be a good citizen today? Should... Read more
  • If I'm a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If I’m a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If you are good enough, can you stop bad things from... Read more
  • what does god think about people

    What Does God Think About People?

    How does God see humanity and what are we supposed to... Read more

Comfort

More
  • What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What is a Christian's responsibility when it comes to... Read more
  • Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen

    Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen?

    Why would a God who is all loving and all powerful... Read more
  • the over scheduled woman

    The Over-Scheduled Woman

    It is so common for women to think that they need to... Read more

Devotional Reading Plans

More
  • If I'm a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If I’m a Good Christian, Nothing Bad Will Happen

    If you are good enough, can you stop bad things from... Read more
  • Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen

    Why does a loving God allow bad things to happen?

    Why would a God who is all loving and all powerful... Read more
  • How to Lead Small Group Discussions

    Leading a small group comes with its own obstacles and... Read more

Prayer

More
  • What the Church Fathers Had to Say About Christmas

    Read these passages of advent alongside timeless... Read more
  • A Top 100 Most-Asked Question About the Bible for the New Year

    Many people who read the Bible don't understand what... Read more
  • teach your children to pray for others

    Teach Your Children to Pray for Others

    This study from the NIV Adventure Bible can help you... Read more

SpeakLight

More
  • Romans 8:28 SpeakLight Danny Gokey

    Romans 8:28 / #SpeakLight / Danny Gokey

    And we know that all things work together for good to... Read more
  • James 5:16 - Steven Malcolm

    James 5:16 / #SpeakLight / Steven Malcolm

    Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for... Read more
  • 2 corinthians 5:17 phil joel

    2 Corinthians 5:17 with Phil Joel

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new... Read more

Spiritual Growth

More
  • what the church fathers had to say about easter

    What the Church Fathers Had to Say About Easter

    Take some time to reflect on the death and... Read more
  • What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What Christians Should Do About Social Justice

    What is a Christian's responsibility when it comes to... Read more
  • What the Church Fathers Had to Say About Christmas

    Read these passages of advent alongside timeless... Read more

Topical Reading Plans

More
  • He is Not Here

    He Is Not Here

    The death of Jesus, the death of God, was the most... Read more
  • What is the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible

    What is the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible?

    Many people have found the Thompson Chain-Reference... Read more
  • who really was jesus

    Who really was Jesus?

    The author of the book of Hebrews explained, using... Read more