Forgive them

'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you." ' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. - Genesis 50v17

Joseph’s brothers still did not get it. When Jacob died they were afraid Joseph would punish them so they sent a messenger with a made up story that Jacob had told them to tell Joseph to forgive them for what they had done. Then they asked for forgiveness and offered themselves as his servants.

It is hard to judge attitudes all these years later, but I don’t think they were truly sorry. Their motivation was fear. They were afraid of the repercussions of their actions instead of being sorry for the action itself.

They need not have worried. Joseph was a much bigger man than they were. When they came to him he wept for them. He had already forgiven them. ‘Am I God that I should judge you?’ he asked, ‘You might have intended this for your own evil purposes, but God meant it for good.

Joseph had no problem forgiving because he had the bigger picture in sight. He knew that the schemes of man cannot outwit the will and the plans of God. He knew that God was sovereign and that His will does not fit in with our plans or our comfort.

This also reminds of Jesus on the cross and the Stephen in the pit. Forgiveness is a key aspect of the believer’s life. Jesus told parables about it. How can we who have been forgiven so much not forgive what others have done to us?

Men may intend evil in their actions but God’s will shall be accomplished and He can turn it into good. Non-forgiveness cannot be a part of our make up.