Made For More-Forgiveness

Forgiveness is Freedom

Genesis 50:15–21 ESV

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Forgiveness and faith (50:19–21)

Their pleas reduced Joseph to tears. He was no doubt moved that they should still harbour such feelings after so many years. How could they misinterpret his actions and generosity! Yet we know how people who have unresolved guilty fears can think bad thoughts and mistrust even those nearest and dearest to them. As they bowed down before him Joseph must have again been reminded of his dreams and their fulfilment. But these things did not make him proud and hard.

Joseph’s response showed that he had already forgiven them and that their unfounded suspicions towards him did not alter his attitude to them. It only remained for him to calm their fears and comfort them by speaking kindly to them. This he did in three ways.

He reminded them of the divine Judge

Joseph was a high official. Joseph was not God. We are to leave the righting of personal wrongs to God.

He taught them about divine providence

Joseph was able to see the bigger picture. He was able to recognize and accept the divine providence of God. When Joseph speaks to his brothers he states it was God who had sent him to preserve life (45:5, 7). Here he in no way minimized the wrong they had done, but bluntly told them, ‘But as for you, you meant evil against me.’ Nevertheless, he was also convinced that ‘God meant it for good.’ Joseph could see with the eye of faith the unseen hand of God at work in this turn of events. The good that had come from the brothers’ evil intentions is spelled out in the words: ‘to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive’. His own brothers and their families, among many others, were alive because of what had happened to Joseph.

He promised to do them good

‘I will provide for you and your little ones’ (50:21). We are called to repay evil with good. Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you’ (Matt. 5:44). Paul adds, ‘Repay no one evil for evil … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Rom. 12:17, 21).

Joseph’s words express complete trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness. In this he is like the Lord Jesus Christ, who committed himself into the hands of the God who judges righteously and who brought everlasting provision and comfort to those who through envy and hatred despised and rejected him (Isa. 53:3–5; 1 Peter 2:21–24).

This famous wisdom saying from the lips of Joseph (50:20) emphasizes one of the key messages of this part of Genesis. God brings about his purposes despite human sinfulness. Divine sovereignty and human responsibility are affirmed and both must be taken into account. The amazing truth is that, although God hates every sin, because he is God, he is able to bring good out of the evil actions of human beings and the devil. Calvin writes, ‘Whatever poison Satan produces, God turns it into medicine for his elect.’ While the brothers were plotting the end of their brother, God was acting to preserve their very lives. At the same time, human beings and the devil remain responsible, blameworthy and deserving of punishment for all their sinful actions. This verse should be an encouragement to all God’s people. Christians are to see God’s good hand, not only in those circumstances that are clearly favourable, but also in difficult and painful experiences.

The verse also teaches us that through the sufferings of a righteous individual blessing comes to many. Righteous Joseph suffered at the hands of his brothers, but through him many, including his brothers, were saved from starvation. God’s righteous Servant ‘shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities’ (Isa. 53:11).

Forgiveness is not about us being good, it is about us relying upon a good God.

Jesus Christ the righteous one suffered for the sins of the unrighteous that he might bring us to God (1 Peter 3)

1 Peter 3:8–18 ESV

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,