Forgiving Those Who Do Harm to Us Out of Ignorance and Folly

There are numerous passages in the Ancient Texts that give us a glimpse of what Jesus meant when He said on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

​We can look at the story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, and see this message clearly. After being raised by his father, Joseph developed keen spiritual insight (the gift of dream interpretation) and practical administrative abilities that marked him for greatness among his brothers. His father taught him how to know the God of Abraham and Isaac; not only that, but Jacob gave Joseph intellectual, leadership training that later proved influential to his rise as a future Egyptian leader, second only to Pharaoh.

But this favoritism also marked Joseph in ways he could not fully understand himself. His brothers grew increasingly jealous and hostile towards him because of this favor. They plotted to kill him; they threw his body in a ditch to die; and they eventually sold him into Egyptian slavery, profiting from Joseph’s demise. The young man was only 17 years old when his life took this dramatic turn.

​Prior to this shift, God the Holy Spirit gave Joseph dreams that pointed to his future leadership role. This spiritual insight never left his heart, for even as he endured years of Egyptian abuse, false rape allegations, and imprisonment, Joseph’s intellect and spiritual gifts placed another mark on him, this time one in which foreigners respected.

As time went on, Joseph’s gifts made room for him and literally brought him before Egypt’s king, Pharaoh. Unlike the other spiritual guides, Joseph was able to discern and accurately read Pharaoh’s dreams to which he later gave the king administrative instructions to help Egypt prosper despite the impending famine.

God’s grace and favor never left Joseph because he never abandoned the teachings from his father. And as a result, Joseph was elevated far above any position his father could give him: second in command among that glorious Egyptian empire.

But life is funny at times. At the height of Joseph’s power, God never forgot His prophetic message to Joseph. In the midst of the thick famine, his brothers reemerged into his life, kneeling and pleading before Joseph to save them, their father, and their entire clan from the famine’s destruction.

A remarkable turn of events when you consider everything they had done to him when he was just a young man.

When Joseph saw his brothers, he trembled with anxiety and anger. Seeing the full manifestation of the prophetic dreams right before his eyes sent him into distress. The urgency to exact vengeance on the ones who took him from his loving father, who tried murdering him, and who sold him into slavery overwhelmed his soul.

But like so many other God-focused leaders, Joseph came back to his senses and recognized one important lesson: What his brothers meant for evil, God used as a funnel to get Joseph into a position of power.

At that moment, Joseph experienced the power of God first-hand, for who else could orchestrate a story so magnanimous and miraculous as this one? No one could ever elevate Joseph to such heights except God the Holy Spirit. And that’s when Joseph was able to practice the Law of Forgiveness.

This realization enabled him to embrace his brothers once again, to reconcile with his beloved father, and to rescue his family from the famine’s destruction.

When he was younger, Joseph’s brothers had no clue what they were doing to him. When they tried killing their brother and eventually sending him into Egyptian bondage, they did not know God would preserve Joseph’s life for that specific moment in time and history.

In essence, Joseph’s life exemplified what Jesus pronounced on the cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” While suspended between Heaven and Golgotha, Jesus knew His purpose. He understood the plan of redemption. And He could look at his betrayers, mockers, and murderers, knowing full well resurrection power would wake him from death’s bed three days later.

You see, Beloved, when we are suspended in our God-given calling and purpose, we can operate just as Joseph and Jesus did. We can look at our accusers and haters, even those who are family members, and say within ourselves, “Father, forgive them for their trespasses against us, because they don’t know what they’re doing entirely. They don’t know the plan You have for us and how You orchestrate our every step as long as we remain steadfast in You.”

We can practice the Law of Forgiveness even while functioning in our leadership grace and calling, knowing that everything — including the bad things — will eventually work together for our good because we are called according to God’s purpose.

In practicing the Law of Forgiveness, we release all fears, worries, and anxieties that try to stifle our progress. We experience spiritual and mental wholeness, which also translates to physical strength. We release the offenders and their offenses by handing them over to the Spirit of God and allowing Him to handle matters in the Courts of Heaven. And when we do this, we give the Holy Spirit the freedom to continue working through us so we fulfill our calling in a spirit of excellence.

Forgiveness is a powerful spiritual law. When practiced, it removes us from the offending situation and permits God’s Law of Vengeance to do a work that we could never accomplish on our own. We don’t always know the guilt, remorse, or shame that fills the offender’s heart, just like Joseph’s brothers felt extreme guilt for the lies they told their father and the anguish they watched him endure as a result of their actions. We are to let God handle matters as He sees fit while we remain focused on our leadership calling. And as we do this, we will discover how the Law of Forgiveness also helps us to forget the pain of the offense. While we may recall the events, the Law of Forgiveness won’t let us feel the turmoil or anxiety that the offenses once brought us. And this breeds power for us as leaders.

Today, as we consider God’s gift of salvation, let us remember the other key lessons Jesus delivered to us, namely the power of the Law of Forgiveness. For when we do, we are guaranteed to see God’s wondrous works in our lives and the lives of those we are called to empower.

Until next time, Beloved, be blessed.

And as always, let’s grow together!

Coach Felecia Killings

---

Donate to The Felecia Killings Foundation and Help Support Our Virtual Work of Ministry with a $25 Donation

​Our ministry is 100% supported by our Beloved Givers and Sponsors. We are able to produce empowering content to rising leaders nationwide as a result of your continued giving.

As a token of our appreciation for your $25 donation, you will receive a copy of The Power of Forgiveness: A 7-Day Challenge to Heal Your Heart, Mind, and Body Using the Law of Forgiveness.

Donate today and be a part of this great Kingdom work.

E-book | The Power of Forgiveness: A 7-Day Challenge to Heal Your Heart, Mind, and Body Using the Law of Forgiveness by Joseph Murphy and Coach Felecia Killings

$25.00

"Forgiveness of others is essential to mental peace and radiant health. You must forgive everyone who has ever hurt you if you want perfect health and happiness." - Joseph Murphy

Bitterness is cancerous to the bones. A mind not at ease causes a diseased body. But what happens when you shift your mind and apply God's laws to your life? Do they have the power to bring healing to you so you live a long and prosperous life?

In this empowering resource, you will learn the power of forgiveness and how it can release healing to you. This e-book contains a 15-minute reading guide that pulls from the ancient wisdom of Joseph Murphy, author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. His chapter on "How to Use Your Subconscious for Forgiveness" will show you the correlation between bitterness and physical ailments and why it is imperative that we learn to forgive others and ourselves so we walk in perfect peace.

Following Murphy's teaching, you will engage in Coach Felecia's interactive workbook that contains 60-minute actionable lessons over a 7-day period to help put into motion healing for your heart, mind, and body using the Law of Forgiveness.

Learn how to renew your strength, how to walk in love and peace, and how to experience health and wholeness so you fulfill your purpose and live life to the fullest.

Book Details

• Book length: 36 pages
• Language: English
• Publication date: April 16, 2025
• Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 inches
• Deliverable formats: PDF print and PPTX (Microsoft Power Point)
• Delivery timeline: Instant download sent to your email
• Publisher: The Felecia Killings Foundation

About the Author

​​Felecia Killings is the Founder and CEO of The Felecia Killings Foundation, a Conscious Conservative think tank and coaching organization that trains rising leaders for full activation in the social, political, and economic spheres. Through her training hosted on her website, her podcast, her leadership network, her social media platforms, her books, and her annual leadership convention, she equips leaders with spiritual and practical tools that help them bring revival and reformation to the communities they serve.

Felecia Killings is also the Chief Editor of Coach Felecia Killings Omnimedia, a best-selling author, award-winning coach, ordained minister, and communications specialist with 10+ years of experience working in media relations, publishing, and editorial development. Her keen insight has helped leaders and organizations reach millions of people with their vision, mission, brand, and core message using the power of the written and spoken word.

"God's anointing is clearly felt in the work Coach Felecia does. I wouldn't want to get this valuable information from any other person." - Annetta Catchings

Donate Today