DAY 26: FORGIVENESS AND HEALING 2

Photo credit: My book of Bible stories

We talked about Joseph's single act of forgiveness yesterday, today we're going to talk about his brothers’ act of repentance.

Joseph stands out as the main figure in this story, suffering years of abuse and cancelling all the consequences with one act. The story would be incomplete if we fail to recognize the little changes in the behavior of his brothers.

Over thirteen years after Joseph's “death”, the brothers had to make a trip to Egypt to buy grain. Jacob, as preferential as he's always being did not allow his youngest son Benjamin to go with them because he was afraid something might happen to him.

The brothers come face to face with Joseph but could not recognize him. Joseph gives them a taste of their own pill by testing them probably as a plot to see Benjamin or maybe to see whether they'll give up on one another like they did with him.

Genesis 42:21-22 NIV

[21] They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” [22] Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” 

This is the first account of remorse we see from the brothers.

After series of tests, a theft charge was leveled against Benjamin (who was allowed to go with them after pleading with Jacob severally).

In front of Jacob, Ruben offered his two sons as ransom should anything happen to Benjamin.

Here before Joseph, Judah, the proponent of selling Joseph, now  offers himself to suffer the consequences of the changes leveled against Benjamin.

Genesis 44:33-34 NIV

[33] “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. [34] How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”

A complete contrast to the ruthless brothers who were ready to kill one of their kind years ago.

When the theft was announced, they were sure enough of their moral conduct to assume that none of them was capable of stealing.

It is worthy of note that all the brothers returned when the theft was discovered, they did not leave Benjamin alone - a complete U-turn for a group that sold their brother.

Joseph forgave his brothers alright but let us remember that the brothers also repented of their actions even though they never came clean to their father. 

Beyond their repentance, they were ready to accept forgiveness. It is one thing for the victim to forgive the culprit, it is another thing for the culprit to accept the forgiveness and forgive themselves.

This story of forgiveness initiated by Joseph would have been incomplete if the brothers shrunk from his love. We see a united Israel because the joy of reuniting with a long lost brother was greater than the hurt of all the past years.

A shadow of how sinful men like us have our slates wiped clean of every sin and guilt because we choose to repent of our evil and receive the forgiveness of God through Christ. 

I pray that God empowers us to truly repent and turn away from all appearances of evil. As hard as it can be, I pray that He empowers us to give forgiveness and to accept it when the situation arises. That He wipes away years of bitterness and pain giving both victim and culprit, a fresh start, because that is who we are - a forgiven people empowered to forgive.