Total Forgiveness
Joseph endured a lot of ridicule from his brothers, even before they sold him into slavery. Then, he spent more than 10 years as a slave and a prisoner in Egypt before being promoted to be ruler of Egypt under Pharaoh himself. At that point he had enough power to do anything he wanted to do. However, he continued to trust God, and when his brothers came to Egypt for food the second time with Benjamin, he forgave them in a tender act of total forgiveness. (Genesis 45:15) This is how all of us should forgive those who have wronged us.
First of all, we have no evidence that Joseph held a grudge against his brothers at any time. It seems clear that he forgave them, even when he could not be with them or meet with them. His forgiveness was to release them any debt to him in his own heart. Then, when he had the chance to express his forgiveness, he kissed each of his brothers who had been so cruel to him, and he wept over each one. Of course, they were amazed he was alive and ruler in Egypt, but they were afraid of his revenge for their sins against him until he did this. Then, they talked with him, realizing he would not hurt them. Finally, he told them to go get his father and bring their whole family to Egypt to be saved from the famine. He never told them to say anything about what had happened to get him to Egypt. That is complete forgiveness. at its best.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-50.
First of all, we have no evidence that Joseph held a grudge against his brothers at any time. It seems clear that he forgave them, even when he could not be with them or meet with them. His forgiveness was to release them any debt to him in his own heart. Then, when he had the chance to express his forgiveness, he kissed each of his brothers who had been so cruel to him, and he wept over each one. Of course, they were amazed he was alive and ruler in Egypt, but they were afraid of his revenge for their sins against him until he did this. Then, they talked with him, realizing he would not hurt them. Finally, he told them to go get his father and bring their whole family to Egypt to be saved from the famine. He never told them to say anything about what had happened to get him to Egypt. That is complete forgiveness. at its best.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-50.