Becoming Reconciled

MEMORY SELECTION: “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; … first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” —Matthew 5:23-24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Genesis 45; 50:14-26

WE NOW come to the end of our lessons concerning the varied experiences which Joseph encountered with his brothers. He had, in fact, become reconciled to the wrongs which had been done to him, and we may therefore conclude with a happy ending.

Reconciliation means a coming together again, united in love, trust, and understanding. It consists of two parts, one of which involves the act of forgiveness on the part of the one who has been wronged, and the other is the acceptance of that forgiveness by the persons who have transgressed.

We know that Joseph’s brothers, because of a cruel and inhuman act, had been separated from him for many years until he said to them, as it is recorded in Genesis 45:4-5, “Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, not angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” This passage shows that any measure of resentment or bitterness Joseph may have had in his heart had all passed away when he came to realize that a change had taken place in the hearts of his brothers. This was largely due to the interest they all manifested in his aged father and their unwillingness to hasten his death by an unkind act or word.

Joseph’s brothers, however, could hardly accept such a degree of forgiveness that was offered to them; and, even years later, when their father died, they wondered whether or not they could trust Joseph not to turn his vengeance upon them. They even went to him to seek assurance that he would continue his forgiveness toward them. Joseph told them, “Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye 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.”—50:19-21

There seems to be an important lesson in all of this that points to God’s goodness, wisdom, love, and power. There was never a murmur nor a word of repining against the bitter lot which Joseph had endured, but instead only a willingness to let the matter rest in God’s hands. And is there not a lesson in all of this to the Lord’s people who are begotten of the Holy Spirit, and who have the example of the words of Jesus and the Apostles, and the history of past ages, that they, too, may learn from the example of Joseph? For he had learned of God and of the laws of righteousness.

The followers of Jesus then must look unto him in respect to all of their trying experiences that divine providence permits to come upon them. This will take a great measure of faith in God and in the power of his might. This faith will be manifested in the everyday affairs of life—trusting that all things are working out according to the divine purpose for the ultimate objective that will assist them in the making of their calling and election sure.

If faithful even unto death, the Lord’s people will have the blessed privilege of assisting the whole world of mankind back to the peace and fellowship of the Lord. There will be need at that time to be patient toward the fallen children of Adam to help them to walk in the proper paths of righteousness and to overcome their weaknesses of the flesh which they have inherited because of Adam’s transgression. There will be much need for tenderness and forgiveness in this great work of the future when Jesus will reign for a thousand years with his body members of the church. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”—Rev. 3:21

What a blessed time that will be when the whole world of mankind will have the opportunity to become reconciled to God through the provisions of his grace on their behalf!

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