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in fractures relationships. Our in- Joseph and His Brothers:
iquities separate us not only from Reconciliation Through
SGod but from each other. The death
of God’s Son, however, not only enabled Providence and Forgiveness
him vertically to reconcile rebellious Joseph’s story vividly demonstrates
people to himself (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21-22), how a spiritual man achieved true and
but also horizontally to reconcile warring lasting reconciliation with his brothers.
people with each other (Eph 2:4-22). Christ Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, was
died and rose again, bringing peace with hated by his brothers, who sold him into
God and also with our neighbor. slavery out of jealousy. In Egypt, Joseph
endured years of further injustice and
Reconciliation is one of the most pow- hardship. Yet, through God’s providence,
erful themes in Scripture. To reconcile he rose to become the most powerful man
means to change a relationship from en- in the land, second only to the pharaoh.
mity to friendship. Peace displaces conflict The turning point in this story of rec-
and fellowship supersedes alienation. onciliation comes many years later when
“Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mat 5:9), a providential famine forces Joseph's
said the Lord Jesus, who Himself made brothers to come to Egypt to buy grain.
“peace by the blood of his cross” (Col Joseph, who is in charge of the granaries,
1:20). Through the power of that cross, immediately recognizes them. He longs
God wants to reproduce His own goodwill to be reconciled to them rather than pun-
and generosity in the hearts of His people ish them. But he chooses not to reveal
as they too restore broken relationships himself until he discovers whether they
and heal past wrongs. have changed. Joseph understands that
true peace must be based on righteousness
Two striking biblical examples of recon- – always (Luk 17:3-4; Isa 32:17). Without
ciliation are found in the Old Testament their repentance, he cannot justly forgive
story of Joseph and his brothers and in the them, and without forgiveness, reconcili-
New Testament account of Philemon and ation cannot occur.
his slave Onesimus. Both narratives show Joseph’s strategy teaches us vital prin-
that despite past betrayal and injustice, ciples for peace-making today. Most
God’s grace enables repentance, forgive- critically, Joseph himself was conscious of
ness and the restoration of fellowship. God and trusted God. Consider how the
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