Page 24 - September 2025 - Truth & Tidings

following phrases show Joseph’s closeness full-circle forgiveness would require their
to God: “How then can I do this great repentance, half-circle forgiveness – a
wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen forgiving attitude – was in Joseph’s heart
39:9). “Do not interpretations belong to all along. Joseph decided to test his broth-
1
God?” (40:8). “It is not in me; God will ers’ sincerity and willingness to repent.
give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (41:16). He generously gave them lavish supplies
“Do this and you will live, for I fear God” and secretly returned their money. But he
(42:18). “They are my sons, whom God has locked up the second oldest, Simeon until
given me here” (48:9). “God will surely they returned with Benjamin. Joseph was
visit you, and you shall carry up my bones overcome with emotion as he listened to
from here” (50:25). his brothers admit their pitiless treatment
Joseph saw God in everything. Since the of him to each other in Hebrew (42:21-
time his brothers sold him to Midianite 23). Joseph tested them again when they
traders, he realized that God was allowing returned with his full brother. He planted
him to experience injustice and undergo a silver cup in Benjamin’s luggage, then
suffering for a purpose. Reflecting on this arrested him and vowed to enslave him.
later, he told his brothers, “God sent me Would the brothers abandon Benjamin as
before you to preserve life” (45:5). This they had abandoned him 22 years earlier?
perspective is essential to notice, because When Joseph saw that they would
God has a larger purpose in the wrongs not abandon Benjamin and heard Judah
and trials of our lives as well. Like Joseph, volunteer to be enslaved in his place
we need to interpret the hard things that (44:33-34), Joseph broke down (45:1-2). His
God allows from His sovereign stand- brothers had owned their guilt – they had
point, rely on His wisdom and goodness, repented! He could not hide his identity
and trust in His plan. Instead of focusing any longer. He cried in Hebrew, “I am
on his brothers’ betrayal, he focused on Joseph! Is my father still alive?” Now
God who allowed it: “As for you, you he could offer his beloved brothers full-
meant evil against me, but God meant circle forgiveness and begin the process of
it for good, to bring it about that many reconciliation. The result was true shalom
people should be kept alive, as they are (peace).
today” (50:20).
Like God, Joseph chose mercy over A spiritual person like Joseph will not
vengeance. He did not gloss over the stop until full reconciliation is achieved.
Joseph was close to God, trusted in God’s
wrongs his brothers had done to him,
but neither did he allow those injustices plan, and kept no record of wrongs (1Co
to dominate him or define him. When he 13:5). He longed to forgive, but first
later named his first son Manasseh (“for- prompted his brothers to name their sin
get”), he showed that he had been willing and own their guilt. When he saw that
to forgive his brothers, and by naming his their character had changed, he lavished
second son Ephraim (“double prosper- them with his love and forgiveness. To be
ity”), he revealed his lifelong choice to peacemakers like Joseph, we too must first
focus on God’s goodness (41:51-52). While assess our closeness to the Lord and the
sincerity of our hearts. Motivated by love,
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the we then pursue character change in others
ESV unless otherwise noted. by kindly showing how their sins have

280 TRUTH kTidings September 2025