Focal Passage: Genesis 42:3-5, 21-24a, 45:1-5
The story of Joseph and his brothers teaches us that it is better to work toward restoration and reconciliation than to seek revenge. While Hollywood can earn millions with a movie plot centered on a protagonist seeking to claim vengeance, God demonstrates through the gospel that reconciliation and forgiveness leads to the greatest story ever told.
God often uses crisis to bring about reconciliation. Joseph had risen from slavery and prison to second in command in all of Egypt. He was tasked by Pharoah to oversee the storage of seven years of plentiful grain harvest.
In his busyness he most likely never would have imagined he would cross paths with the brothers who had sold him into slavery. Yet, God is the master of divine appointments. As the years of plenty gave way to an intense famine, Egypt was poised to be the granary of the civilized world with Joseph at the center of power. This famine drove Jacob to send his sons to Egypt to purchase food.
Moore
God was setting the stage for an opportunity to restore a broken relationship. Never give up hope that God may provide a future opportunity for family reconciliation through the circumstances of life. You never know what tomorrow may bring.
Admitting wrongdoing is the first step forward. Joseph tested his brothers when they arrived to purchase the grain. He required the brothers to go back to their home to fetch Benjamin and bring him to Egypt. As a guarantee that they would do this, Simeon was left behind. In this focal passage, we see the brothers finally acknowledge their wrongdoing to each other. They saw that God may be punishing them for what they had done to Joseph so many years before. When Joseph overheard this conversation, he turned away and wept.
He perceived the heart of confession and guilt, and he was driven to desire reconciliation. When we sin against a family member, may we not allow the sun to go down before repenting before the Lord and asking for forgiveness from the one we hurt. .
Proactive forgiveness invites reconciliation. The brothers did not openly confess their sin before Joseph for they were not aware that the powerful regent before them was their long-lost brother. Joseph had all the power in the world to accomplish a lasting vengeance on his hateful brothers. He could have had them killed or imprisoned.
He could have relished the look in his brother’s faces as they realized who was signing their death warrant. Such satisfaction is the desire of the world.
God calls His people to be proactive in seeking reconciliation. Joseph was the victim of sinful violence and betrayal, yet he was the one who took the initiative to restore his brothers. An unrepentant sinner is a true impediment to reconciliation. That was our position before God sent His Son. We were alienated from God and hostile in mind against Him (Colossians 1:21). Yet, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Joseph knew that he had to take the first step toward restoration. God does not guarantee that we will achieve success when we take the initiative to seek reconciliation, but we should always be the ones to sow the seeds for that possibility. Let’s be faithful to emulate Christ in our grace and forgiveness and let us leave the results up to God. B&R
