God's People - Time in Egypt: Joseph

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. ~ Genesis 45:1-15


Is there anything better than a reunion story? Or a story of forgiveness?

We don't get much of Joseph's brothers reaction here, but I can guess at the total amazement. What did they feel?

Surprise? Shame? Sorrow? Joy?

Or all of these things at once!

And what did Joseph feel?

Not all stories of reunion and forgiveness end with such a grand "aha" moment: with seeing God's hand playing its part in working all things out for a reason - taking such a cruel act - selling a brother into slavery - and turning it into a blessing.

Many stories of broken relationships seem to take twisted paths that lead into dark turns and alleys. Sometimes even forgiveness itself doesn't seem to heal all, and often questions of where God is in the brokenness stay on lips for years to come.

Sometimes forgiveness doesn't mean reunion. Sometimes it simply means letter go.

Letting go of hurts, but also, possibly, letting go by living separately.

It is a cliche to sat that forgiveness is hard, but then most cliches are cliches for a reason: the truth is there so obviously. Forgiveness IS hard.

And it takes many forms. But in all of its forms, at the center of it is healing.

It may mean healing the relationship and bringing people back together, as with Joseph and his brothers.

But it also may mean healing wounds in self that mean keeping a relationship at arms length: an alcoholic who has wounded you and still drinks or an abuser who is still violent. You may find yourself able to heal by forgiveness without reuniting in the relationship.

Whatever the case, forgiveness is a process. And it is one that is helped along by a trusted community of people, or trusted individual: a church family, a therapist, a pastor, a friend.

Or all of the above.

Joseph had a long journey before he was able to forgive his brothers. And we may as well. It is hard, and it is a process, but it is also worth everything in terms of healing and hope.

Prayer: God of mercy, help me to forgive even when I find it impossible. And thank you for the people you have put in my life that will help me on the journey. Amen.

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