Forgive and Verify

Introduction

Today we come to the second to last of the Sermons on the life of Joseph. The larger context of this series has to do with forgiveness. We have seen the powerful role forgiveness has in the life of those who choose it.

But too often people don’t understand forgiveness.

Psychiatrist Stephen Marmer, identifies three types of forgiveness

Exoneration

Forbearance

Release

Analyzing Joseph’s story we can see that he engaged in Release when he forgave his brothers for what they had done.

He was not able to see them and they were no longer a part of his life. At least not until now. Release is when you forgive someone who is no longer in your life. The point here is to release yourself from the bondage of allowing this person to live rent free in your head. This type of forgiveness is not focused on restoring the relationship.

In our rather long journey we have seen Joseph’s development from a immature 17 year old boy to a wise ruler.

Last time we saw Joseph’s ascendance to power. We pickup the story in chapter 42 of Genesis.

By now Joseph has been ruling Egypt for nine years, he is married and has two sons. It has been 22 years since last saw his brothers. The seven years of plenty have passed and five of the seven years of famine are still to come.

The Encounter

Genesis 42:1 NASB95

1 Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

Genesis 42:6 NASB95

6 Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

You might be tempted to think this was the fulfillment of the dream, but here we only have ten, not eleven brothers.

Genesis 42:7 NASB95

7 When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

He recognizes his brothers, but rather than coming out and telling them who he is, Joseph begins a series of tests to see if they had changed their ways.

Are they trust worthy?

The last time he saw them they sold him like cattle to a band of traders and while he forgave them, for the last 22 years he did not need to deal with them, so there was not need to restore the relationship. But now they are here.

Joseph needs to know what kind of relationship they will be able to have. Should he exonerate them and restore the relationship? Are they sorry for what they have done? Or should he extend forbearance to them and maintain a safe distance so as not to get hurt again?

Genesis 42:9 NASB95

9 Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.”

He accused them of being spies

Genesis 42:13 NASB95

13 But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.”

After twenty two years they no longer resented Joseph, but they still had not accepted responsibility.

So Joseph sends them to prison for three days.

Genesis 42:15 NASB95

15 by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here!

22 years ago they betrayed their youngest brother. Will they do the same now?

Initially Joseph tells them that one of them can go and bring back Benjamin, but after three days, he changed his mind and keeps Simeon and lets the rest go to bring the food to his family and bring back benjamin.

Genesis 42:18–25 NASB95

18 Now Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: 19 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, 20 and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.” 22 Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.” 23 They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them. 24 He turned away from them and wept. But when he returned to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain and to restore every man’s money in his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. And thus it was done for them.

And so they leave and when they stopped that night they realized that inside their bags was all their money. Joseph’s forgiveness is being expressed through his actions.

But he was also testing them, since they claimed to be honest men.

When they got home they told their father everything that had happened.

Genesis 42:36–38 NASB95

36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are against me.” 37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” 38 But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Jacob cant deal with the pain of losing more sons. I don’t know about you, but having lost my father and even my brother, I still can’t imagine what it would be like to lose my son or my daughter.

Sometimes the scars of pain can often paralyze us.

this is particularly true when we have failed to forgive others, as is clearly the case of Jacob, who blamed his children for losing Joseph and Simeon.

Next week we will see the final chapter of this story. But I wonder how many of us are still suffering because we have not forgiven those who have offended us.

Perhaps we should take time this week to consider what type of forgiveness we need to extend to these persons. It is my hope that you can find peace as you chose to forgive.