Show Mercy Like Joseph Did
Show Mercy like Joseph Did April 19, 2026
Recently I have had the opportunity to reflect on the life of Joseph, particularly his tremendous demonstration of mercy. According to Bible Hub’s Topical Encyclopedia “Mercy, in the biblical context, refers to the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one’s power to punish or harm. The term is derived from the Latin “misericordia,” which means “pity” or “compassion,” and is closely related to the Hebrew word “chesed” and the Greek word “eleos,” both of which convey a sense of loving-kindness, steadfast love, and compassion.”
Joseph was despised by his brothers. Originally they planned to murder him, but instead sold him into slavery. Joseph then spent several years in prison, but eventually God allowed him to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. Joseph was later tasked with protecting the Egyptian people from a time of famine that they would face. This famine spread beyond Egypt and drove his brothers to come to Egypt to purchase grain; where unbeknown to them they encountered Joseph. Being the second most powerful man in the country Joseph had the power to imprison or execute his brothers. He could have sought revenge but instead he chose a different path. When Joseph encountered his brothers in a vulnerable position he demonstrated extreme mercy. At first he didn’t reveal his identity to them but ensured his brothers were fed while he tested their character, provided them with grain and secretly returned their money. When Joseph receives his brothers on their second visit he reveals himself to them and wept openly before them, demonstrating his desire for a restored relationship and not retribution. He drew them close, demonstrating that he didn’t want to be their ruler, but wanted them to be a family. Joseph relieved his brother’s physiological burden of guilt by explaining what appeared to be a tragic situation was simply a part of God’s plan, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph demonstrates that showing mercy enables us to look beyond the personal pain or injury we may have faced and instead heal broken relationships and preserve life.
Like Joseph, God expects us to show mercy in our daily lives. We should treat mercy as a proactive approach to alleviate the suffering of others or withholding punishment for those who have caused us offense. God has provided us with the greatest possible example of mercy in Jesus who taught us in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Our Heavenly Father has forgiven our greatest debt, that of our sin and has restored our broken relationship with Him. Thus we need to show similar mercy to others in our lives.
In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Jesus teaches that demonstrating mercy through forgiveness should be a limitless habit, not a one-time transaction (Matthew 18:21-35). When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone for sinning against him, Jesus replies, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Mercy requires us to show care and compassion to the vulnerable. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan,the Samaritan provides physical care and financial support for a stranger who had been severely injured by others (Luke 10:25-37). We are also challenged to show mercy to our enemies. Paul instructs us, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans 12:20).
Jesus spoke of mercy in the beatitudes, where He states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Our Heavenly Father has been very merciful to us. Today, we have an opportunity and obligation to make mercy a daily habit in our lives. Showing mercy will allow the love of God to be demonstrated through our lives.
Kevin Pickles