Was Joseph Revenging?

Have you ever thought about how Joseph could forgive his brothers who betrayed and sold him into slavery? His incredible journey from betrayal to power in Egypt and reunion with his brothers shows us the strength of forgiveness and redemption. Interestingly, this story is similar to Jesus Christ's journey and His relationship with us.

Point 1: Joseph wanted to forgive his brothers in a complete way.

Joseph had a special way of checking if his brothers truly felt sorry and had changed. He made them do different tasks that showed their real characters.

Their reactions under stress revealed their commitment to each other and their family.

This is like how the criminal justice system checks if a person has really changed before they are released from prison. Like this system, Joseph wanted proof of change before he could think about making up with his brothers.

- Joseph knew about fake forgiveness and being sorry. He was stopping himself from forgiving his brothers until they were truly changed and ready for his forgiveness.

Luke 3:8 tells us, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." This means our actions and attitudes should show real remorse, a rule Joseph set for his brothers.

- Forgiving his brothers, who had tried to kill him and sold him into slavery, was not easy for Joseph. But he was willing to forgive, showing his strength and wisdom. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." This quote tells us about Joseph's strength and readiness to forgive.

Our first point tells us that real change and true remorse are needed for forgiveness. This means admitting past mistakes, feeling really sorry, and promising to do better. Without such change, forgiveness is empty.

Point 2: Joseph wanted his Brothers to be free of Guilt.

Joseph used different ways, like imprisoning one brother and asking for Benjamin, to test his brothers. He showed that the best way to know someone's character is through trials.

These tests let Joseph see how his brothers acted, especially how they treated their father, Jacob. He could tell if they had learned from their past mistakes, showing the value of wisdom and kindness.

- Imagine, after the brothers lied to their father about Joseph being dead.

- They had to see their father lose his will to live. Jacob probably blamed himself for letting his son die from a wild animal.

- The brothers probably wished they could tell the truth to their father about Joseph.

- Their lives were probably harder than Joseph's because of their actions.

Trials refine us, just like fire purifies gold. This idea is in line with James 1:2-3, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

The tests that Joseph gave his brothers made them think about their past actions. They learned to be kinder and more honest, showing the importance of unity and making up.

- As a result, the brothers were able to accept Joseph's forgiveness.

Point 3: We see Jesus in this story

When we compare Joseph's journey with Jesus's experiences, we see a deep connection. Jesus, who forgave us all and sacrificed Himself for our sins, is similar to Joseph's wish to make up with his brothers.

Like Joseph, Jesus invites us to share in His blessings. Both Joseph and Jesus call for real remorse and willingness to fix our mistakes.

Just as Joseph sent his brothers away to correct their past mistakes, Jesus sends us into the world, hoping we make the right choices. Unfortunately, we often disappoint Him with our wrong choices. So, let's try to make the right decisions that reflect our commitment to bring joy to ourselves and others.

Through Jesus, we can experience the power of forgiveness and making up in our lives. His sacrifice made way for our redemption, giving us the chance to experience His transformative love.

Conclusion:

Looking back at the story of Joseph and his brothers, let's remember the important lessons in true remorse, wisdom from trials, and the power of forgiveness. Like Joseph's efforts to make up with his brothers, Jesus also tries to fix our broken relationships. Let's practice forgiveness this week, offering kindness to others as Jesus does to us.