The story of Joseph is just about one of my all-time favorites. There’s so much there that we can learn from. Seriously, every time I go through Joseph’s story and the incredible things God did with his life I learn something new.
On my most recent readthrough, I was struck by a seemingly offhand event that occurs after the bulk of Joseph’s adventures. In the last moments of the book of Genesis, things are wrapping up rather nicely. Joseph is the most powerful man in Egypt besides Pharoah, he and his family have been reunited, and they’ve all been saved from the famine. All the brothers seem to be on good terms and things are going well in the land of Egypt.
And then Jacob dies, and Joseph’s brothers all panic again. They become terrified that now that their father is gone Joseph will exact his revenge for everything they did to him. In their minds, they hadn’t actually been forgiven. They were just enjoying a stay of execution and their father was the only one keeping their younger brother’s vengeance at bay.
Remember, this is around seventeen years later. So Joseph’s brothers have spent almost two decades living with the vague fear at the back of their minds that Joseph is just biding his time, waiting to pay them back for what they did to him. And if I’m honest? There’s a very human part of me whose knee-jerk reaction is to think that he should.
By our human understanding of justice, Joseph is completely entitled to vengeance. Lots of historical records would even suggest that he would be wise to do so. Some of the greatest dynasties in history lasted so very long because they made sure they dealt swiftly with anyone who tried to keep them from success. Given how high Joseph had risen in power in Egypt, tactics would suggest that eliminating his previous enemies would be a smart move to secure his power or at the very least solidify his authority with any watching rivals.
But Joseph, true to everything about his character, does the exact opposite. He chooses to reassure his brothers of their standing with him. He chooses forgiveness over revenge. “But Joseph replied, ‘Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.’ So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19-21)
Now maybe you don’t have a group of brothers selling you into slavery, but you will most certainly have things in your life that present the choice between forgiveness and vengeance. And believe me, when that moment comes it will be a genuine struggle to make that choice.
Choosing forgiveness over revenge is hard. Really hard. It requires you to set aside your own ideas of what you’re owed in favor of healing a relationship. And in addition to that, you have to fight against the voice of the world that’s screaming you’re owed retribution and repayment.
It would have been a thousand times easier to for Joseph to bury his brothers in revenge and pay them back a thousand times over for what they did for him. Joseph was human. I have to imagine that that wasn’t a decision that he made without any struggle. But he still made it, and we have the same capacity to make that decision as he did.
The world may tell you you’re owed recompense, but God is coming at the issue from a completely different place. Where the world places a premium on retribution, God favors restoration, and believe me, that’s a far greater gain than any revenge. Because the really beautiful thing about forgiveness is that it works on more than just the heart receiving it. In choosing to forgive, Joseph was freed from a lifelong battle with bitterness and resentment. In the end, I don’t think he would have traded that for anything.
And finally, forgiveness is very rarely a one action event. More often than not it is an ongoing event, a conscious continuing choice. It takes a lot of effort. Some days will be better than others. We are sinful creatures ourselves so it’s not exactly surprising that something as Godly as forgiveness would be hard for us to practice. Choosing forgiveness ignites a war within ourselves where neither side is willing to give up ground. So if forgiveness feels like an ongoing struggle that’s completely unsurprising and a clear indication of its worthiness.
I won’t lie to you, forgiveness will be hard, but it will be far harder for you to live without it. Forgiveness is etched so deeply into God’s plans for a redeemed world that we ignore our need to give it to our own peril. God tells us to forgive. We might just trust that he knows what he’s doing.
Let’s find some joy,
A
Avalon Robinson Author 