Sometimes it is difficult to forgive someone for an offense. There have been times in the past where people have done some really rotten things to me, even to the point of falsely accusing me of doing wrong and taking action that had dire impact on me and my family. In one case, I prayed to the LORD that I couldn’t take it anymore and asked if He would remove this person from my life. And he did. But I had to find forgiveness in my heart. Forgiveness is essential to a healthy life and relationship with the LORD. If we do not have the capacity to forgive and the willingness to do so, a root of bitterness can take hold in our hearts that will lead to many relationship and health issues.
Genesis 44:18-47:27 continues the story of Joseph as ruler over Egypt and his brothers. Who, not realizing Joseph’s true identity, returned to Egypt to buy more grain and secure the release of their brother Simeon. In a final test of their hearts, Joseph had his goblet placed in Benjamin’s pack, and sent his steward to “catch” Benjamin in the supposed act of theft. The brothers are brought back to stand before Joseph, and as punishment Benjamin is to become Joseph’s slave. Judah approached Joseph and said, “Please my lord! Let your servant say something privately…(44:1a).” The Hebrew verb used here for approach is “nagash,” meaning to “draw near” or “join,” and has the connotation of being close enough to touch. Judah then pleads for his brother Benjamin’s freedom, and offers himself in the place of Benjamin.
This is a complete change of heart because it was Judah who was responsible for selling Joseph into slavery. Seeing that his test had revealed Judah’s change of heart, Joseph said to his brothers, “Please! Come closer…I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt (44:4).” The words, “come closer,” have the same form as the Hebrew word “nagash.” First Judah, “draws near” to Joseph to intercede for Benjamin, then Joseph “draws near” to his brothers to reveal himself to them. Joseph said in Genesis 45:5,7, “But don’t be sad that you sold me into slavery here or angry at yourselves, because it was God who sent me ahead of you to preserve life…that you will have descendants on earth and to save your lives in a great deliverance.”
The main point of this story is that Joseph forgave his brothers. He does not hold against them his brothers conspiring to kill him, nor recriminate them for selling him into slavery. Yet the real significance of Joseph’s story goes beyond him and his brothers. The message here is that of repentance, forgiveness, and not bearing a grudge. Jesus is our prime example. Like Joseph, Jesus was betrayed, yet He forgives us all, even offering His life as a substitute for ours. James said it well in chapter 4:8 of his book, “Come close to God and He will come close to you.” Stay close, and cling to Him. Remember, forgiveness, no matter if the offending party is not sorry or repentant, is key to a healthy life. It is also required by God. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:15, “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
