Monday: Setting the Stage
Joseph has forgiven his brothers. We don’t know exactly when Joseph forgave them, but it was obviously long before they showed up. Joseph probably would never have thrived in Egypt if he had not forgiven because, most likely, the anger and bitterness would have eaten away at his soul and damaged his relations with the Lord.
Several studies of survivors of tragedy inflicted on them by others have highlighted the fact that for victims of the most horrible suffering, forgiveness was a key factor to find healing and to get their lives together again. Without forgiveness, we remain victims. Forgiveness has more to do with ourselves than with the person or persons who have wronged us.
Even though Joseph has forgiven his brothers, he is not willing to let the family relationships pick up where he left them; that is, at the dry pit at Dothan. He has to see if anything has changed.
What does Joseph overhear? Read Genesis 42:21-24. What does he learn about his brothers?
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
All communication has been taking place through an interpreter, and so Joseph’s brothers are unaware that he can understand them. Joseph hears his brothers’ confession. The brothers had thought that by getting rid of Joseph, they would be free from his reporting to their father. They thought that they would not have to put up with his dreams or watch him revel in the role of being their father’s favorite. But instead of finding rest, they have been plagued by a guilty conscience all these years. Their deed had led to restlessness and a paralyzing fear of God’s retribution. Joseph actually feels sorry for their suffering. He weeps for them.
Joseph knows that the famine will still last several more years, and so he insists that they bring Benjamin back with them the next time they come to buy grain (Genesis 42:20). He also keeps Simeon hostage (Genesis 42:24).
After seeing that Benjamin is still alive, he organizes a feast in which he obviously shows favoritism to Benjamin (Genesis 43:34) to see if the old patterns of jealousy were still there. The brothers don’t show any signs of being jealous, but Joseph knows how cunning they can be. After all, they did deceive a whole town (Genesis 34:13), and he surely figures that they must have lied to their own father about his fate (Genesis 37:31-34). So, he devises one more major test. (See Genesis 44:1-34.)
| Read Genesis 45:1-15. What does this tell us about how Joseph felt about his brothers and the forgiveness he had given them? What lessons should we take away from this story for ourselves? |
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Today's lesson states: "Forgiveness has more to do with ourselves than with the person or persons who have wronged us."
There is a view that I have noticed becoming increasingly popular that goes along the lines of, "we don't forgive others for them - we forgive others for the benefit to ourselves." I am hearing this expressed more and more both outside of and within christian circles.
While it is true that there are significant benefits to ourselves from forgiving others and significant costs from failing to do so, from a christian perspective the motivation behind forgiveness is critically important. Why? The foundational "Law of Life for earth and heaven" - the principle of love/beneficence (1)- is the focusing on giving to others for their benefit - period. Thus, the motivation is pure other-seeking. No other basis viably supports true life. Our world is testament to that observation.
So, while what I do matters, the motive behind what I do is critical. Am I motivated by the benefits that others will potentially gain, or am I motivated by the benefits I will potentially gain. This is why Jesus truthfully said, "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35) and why He also said that anyone who would become a follower of Him would, of necessity, need to "deny himself" (Matthew 16:24).
The way the Law of Life - the principle of love/beneficence - works is that by giving to others we receive in return when we give without expectation of receiving, when our motivation is the benefits to others, not the benefits to ourselves.
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(1) If you would like to read more about the nature of the "Law of Life on earth and heaven" - "the circuit of beneficence", read the first few pages of Desire of Ages. A better understanding of this foundational law of life and living will help you understand many other principles and teachings within scripture regarding life and salvation.
N0ticed that Joe didn't bother to mention that he went to prison? what does say about the young man? Noticed also that Judah became an intercessor? Just like Jesus!
And Joseph wept for them just as Jesus wept for us.
In the immediate now before Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt. Joseph forgiveness only benefited him. Once they found out who he was and subsequently after their father died, Joseph's forgiveness equally gave them the peace and rest they so desperately needed.
I agree with Phil the that motivation behind the forgiveness is of utmost importance. Which for me raises the question. If the motive is not correct, then is the forgiveness truly forgiveness? I'd have to assume not. Almost like Pharoah 400 years from the now story when he says, I'm sorry I'll let you go worship your God. No I changed my mind.
On the same front, if I repent or ask forgiveness from God and my motive isn't right, am I forgiven of God?
Jesus' teaching on how to treat those who have hurt us goes even further than forgiveness - or is this the real meaning of forgiveness? How did Joseph treat his brothers?
Luke 6:27-31
27 to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
When did Joseph forgive his brothers? Was it before he saw them? If so why did he put them through all those tests before revealing himself?
Should we wait for our enemy to confess and be sorry before we forgive them?
When did Joseph forgive his brothers?
Gen 41:50-52
50 ... before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath. 51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh,for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
God gave Joseph a new family and he didn't spend his time thinking about what he had lost and the wrong that had been done to him. This is is a critical part of forgiveness - God healed his heart and mind and he forgot his troubles.
The harder part of forgiveness is forgiving myself for i know i have sinned against God and am blessed that he forgives me and now do it no more.
Is the real issue that we are having trouble forgiving ourselves, or is it that we are having trouble accepting that God has forgiven us?
Perhaps the greater difficulty is accepting that God has forgiven us which then leads to the forgiveness of others including ourselves.
I am having trouble accepting many assumptions made regarding Joseph. One for example would be that he didn't spend time thinking about the pain his brothers caused him. Could it be just the opposite and that is why it was years before the scripture that said
"God has made me to forget all my trouble and everyone in my fathers family"?
Also, why didn't he seek to find out if his father was still alive before the famine?