Genesis 50

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15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

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19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

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24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

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Death. Fear. Insecurity. Sorrow. Conspiracy. Deception. Paranoia. The abuse of power.

Sympathy. Compassion. Humility. Graciousness. Generosity. Trust. Reliance.

The Kingdom of this world, contrasted starkly with the Kingdom of God.

Joseph’s brothers have been dependent on their shared connection with Joseph to Jacob for security from Joseph’s wrath. The atrocities of their youth have followed them for decades now, and they have not accepted the forgiveness that Joseph gave them before, when they came to him as a governor. They have refused to let go, they have refused to lay back into the mercy God gave to Joseph. They are captured in the hell of their choosing. Why? Because they haven’t understood God.

Joseph has experienced comfort and strength in God. He has trusted in God, and God has shown Joseph his calling in Egypt. Joseph has known peace and purpose in being able to literally save a generation of people with the wisdom of God. Joseph tells his brothers, now, as before when they were reconciled; “What you intended for harm God has made for good! I have saved many lives!” For Joseph, the Kingdom of Heaven is very near. He is living harmoniously with his neighbors, and communing with God, fulfilling his calling dutifully and without prejudice.

But the brothers expect vengeance. The brothers expect a return on their cruelty. Even now, after decades of Joseph’s generosity, they can imagine only pretense and falsehood. Now they are genuinely afraid. They are self-interested and self-absorbed. Conspiracy and deception are the places they toss and turn at night, imagining the depth of Joseph’s hatred, building the prison cells and torture chambers that Joseph has secreted away, waiting for the day.

Because they have not understood God.

Have we accepted God? Or do we hide in the dark corners, afraid of the Judge, imagining the litany of sins that He might read to us? Do we fear his wrath?

I may deserve His wrath, just as Joseph’s brother’s surely did not deserve anything but Joseph’s wrath for hating him, for plotting against him, threatening him with death, and selling him off to foreign traders.

But Joseph saw past the sins. Joseph chose to be gracious. And that is something he learned from God. We don’t see where, we don’t see how. But God has surely shown Joseph the same thing He has been lobbying you and me with- the desire to show mercy.

I wonder if Joseph saw through it all that time. If he knew that his brother’s still did not trust him. I wonder if he gave the lavish meals, the good pastures for their flocks, gave them all of the good things that Egypt and Pharaoh offered them, and all along, saw the distrust in their eyes.

But he kept giving it to them. He never stopped giving it to them.

And then he blessed them.

There’s an interesting contrast, when Joseph says in verse 21, “Don’t be afraid, I will provide for you, and your children.” And then a few verses later, he says “I am about to die- but God will surely come to your aid…”

Joseph has done everything he can to show the depth of his forgiveness to his brothers. But even Joseph will die. But do not be afraid, because though I die, God does not- He will surely come to your aid.

Where does Joseph get this generosity? This courage? The depth of faith to lie on his deathbed and rely on God?

He has experienced it himself. He has seen God’s promises, known God’s love, felt the arms of God’s compassion.

God has shown Joseph love that doesn’t stop loving, gifts that are sourced in the desire to give and the generosity of the Giver, not the merit of earner, and grace that is ruled by grace, not ruled by a fickle temper.

Joseph is a mirror for God. Cast aside, sold off as rubbish. Yet rising up to give good things, speak into the darkness of chaos and misunderstanding. Humbly serving behind the curtain of Pharaoh, and not seeking power, but seeking to serve. And spending endlessly to convince the darkness that light is present and ready. Even if the darkness does not see it. Even if the darkness doesn’t believe.

Joseph is not forgiving his brothers so that they will believe and be forgiven. He is forgiving his brothers because God has shown him that it is the best way. It is His own way.

God forgives because it pleases him to forgive. It makes Him a better God. And he will continue to offer it to us, even as we turn, even as we refuse, even as we accept it be it uncertain or distrustful. While it is for us, it serves Him too.

Genesis. The beginning, but also part of the middle. And a blurry view of the end. Not too bad.