FORGIVENESS IS DIVINE

During the reign of one of the foremost Akarigbo of Remo kingdom, three persons came to him dragging a young man with them and said to him, Alayeluwa, this man has murdered our father."

Oba Akarigbo: "Why did you kill their father?"

Kobiowu: "I'm a goatherd. My goat ate from their father's farm and he threw a stone at my goat and it died so I also took the stone and threw it at their father and he also died."

Alayeluwa Oba Akarigbo: "Because of this, I pass judgment on your charge of  murder by sentencing you to death."

Kobiowu said:

"I ask for 3 days before you execute the judgment. My late father left me some wealth and I have a sister to take care of. If you kill me now, the wealth and my sister will have no guardian."

Alayeluwa: "Who will stand for your bail?"

Kobiowu looking into the crowd, pointed at Abanise.

Kabiyesi Akarigbo : "Do you agree to stand for him, Abanise?"

Abanise :"Yes."

Kabiyesi enquired further: "You agree to stand for someone you don't know and if he doesn't return you'll receive his penalty."

Abanise: "I accept."

Kobiowu then left but after two days and into the third day there was still no sign of him.

Everyone was very afraid for Abanise who had accepted to receive the penalty of death if the man failed to return.

Just before it was time for dinner,  the Kobiowu appeared looking very exhausted and stood before Alayeluwa Oba Akarigbo. 

Kobiowu: "I have handed the wealth and the welfare of my sister to my uncle and I am back to receive the penalty. You may execute the penalty now."

In great shock and surprise, Akarigbo said: "why did you willingly return after having a chance to escape the death penalty?"

Kobiowu "I was afraid it will appear that humanity has lost integrity (Proverbs 11.3; 2Corinthians 8:21; Hebrews 13:18) and the ability to fulfill promises (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6; James 5:12; Ephesians 4:24-25) made."

Akarigbo turned and looked at Abanise and asked him: "And why did you stand for him?"

Abanise responded: "I was afraid it might appear that humanity has lost the will to do good to others (Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:16; Romans 12:13)."

These words and events moved the brothers who had wanted justice for their father's death very deeply, and they decided to forgive the young Kobiowu. 

In anger, Akarigbo asked, "Why?"

They said: "We are afraid it will appear as though forgiveness has lost place in the heart of humanity (Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 6:14; Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18:21-22)."

"To err is human but to forgive is divine." Forgiveness belongs to the Almighty God.