Joseph: An Example of Forgiveness

Genesis 45:1-15; 47:11, 12

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”—Ephesians 4:32

WE CAN well imagine the consternation of his brethren when Joseph made himself known to them. It had appeared to them that their trials and difficulties were multiplied, and that somehow or other Joseph had been identified with all their trials. Now, to be in his presence, to hear him speak to them, no longer through an interpreter, but directly in their own language, telling them that he was Joseph, we can imagine how they felt—stunned.

But Joseph, full of true sympathy and pity, hastened to set them at their ease. He did not even chide them for the wrong. Instead, realizing that sin had already brought them punishment, Joseph consoled them, saying, “Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you, to preserve life—to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God.”

How beautifully Joseph heaped upon his brethren unasked forgiveness and expressions of sympathy. In this Joseph represented in type Christ and His spirit. Today in the better light shining from one page to another of the Bible, God’s people are seeing that instead of Messiah’s purposing the eternal torture of the Jews or any other members of the race, He purposes the contrary—that they shall obtain divine mercy and forgiveness.

This mercy will be extended to the Jews very shortly, after Messiah’s Kingdom shall have been established, as St. Paul points out in Rom. 11:25-33: “They shall obtain mercy through your mercy.” The same thought is expressed by the prophet, saying of Israel, “They shall look upon Him whom they pierced, and shall mourn for Him.” (Zech. 12:10) Theirs will be a mourning of true sorrow, as they shall realize the grievous wrong committed more than eighteen centuries ago. But instead of their being punished with an eternity of torture, the Lord will be gracious to them, as He declares, “And I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication.” How beautiful, and how much in harmony with our typical lesson of today!

Joseph’s brethren failed to understand him—so great was the difference between their characters and his. Even after they had become more sympathetic and tender-hearted, they still had a sufficient bitterness of spirit and an animosity that, if they had been in Joseph’s place, they would have seen to it that somehow or other future punishment would have been meted out. They were, therefore, surprised by Joseph’s words of brotherly kindness and sympathy and unable to believe that he meant it all, they concluded that he was dealing graciously with them for his father Jacob’s sake.

So we find that years afterwards, when Jacob died, these ten brethren were in great trepidation lest Joseph should then wreak his vengeance upon them. They went to him again, asking for a continuance of his forgiveness. But Joseph said unto them, “Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”—Genesis 50:19-21

However he learned, it is most manifest that Joseph was taught of God. Vengeance against his brethren he had none. Whatever punishment would come to them for their sin would not be his to inflict, but God’s. And that punishment they evidently did receive in the mental torture, fears and forebodings of many years. Joseph had nothing to do with regulating the divine arrangements whereby justice always metes out punishment for every wrong. It was his to be generous, loving, kind, and exemplification of the great Redeemer and His Messianic Kingdom.

It was the same in respect to his own experiences. We note with astonishment that a man with so few opportunities had such a comprehensive grasp of the spirit of truth, the spirit of Christ. We who have been begotten of the Holy Spirit and who have the example of the words of Jesus, the apostles and the history of all ages, may still sit at Joseph’s feet, and be amazed to perceive how fully he learned of God, and may apply similar lessons to ourselves. Never a murmur, never a word of repining against the bitter lot that had been his! In every word, in everything, he testifies to God’s goodness, wisdom, love and power. He seemed to realize that to have made a single change or alteration in the experiences that had come to him would have been to do injury to the plan as a whole, and he would have failed to learn some of the lessons of life which he needed.

How much all the followers of Jesus need to look unto the Lord in respect to all their trying experiences! How much we all need to have and to exercise faith in God—that He knows, that He sees, and is able and willing to make all things work together for good to us, because we love Him, because we have been called according to His purpose, because we are seeking to make that calling and that election sure by the development of a character which will make us “Meet for the inheritance of the saints in light,” and for joint-heirship with our Redeemer!

Evidently Joseph was a keen observer of human nature. Many would have thought it unnecessary to caution the brethren against disputes under all the circumstances. He evidently feared the favorable conditions in which his brethren found themselves, might lead them to disputes along the way back to Canaan. And hence his warning, “Fall not out by the way,” was timely.

We have known matters to go similarly with the Lord’s brethren. In tribulation, their hearts were crying to the Lord, but in prosperity they were disposed to grudge one against another, and to be envious and jealous of each other’s opportunities, blessings and privileges. What a great mistake! Each should remember that the Master’s eye is noting his progress in Christ-likeness. Each should remember that brotherly love is one of the tests of character. The words of the Psalmist were evidently prophetically written for the church, the Lord’s brethren: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

QUESTIONS:

Should Christians follow Joseph’s example of forgiveness in dealing with their brethren?

In what way did Joseph’s viewpoint of his experiences make it easy for him to forgive his brethren?

Should Christians have faith to believe that all of their experiences are permitted of the Lord for their good?

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