The events that had been foretold in Joseph’s dreams
of stars and moons and sheaves of wheat are now coming to fruition. The prophecy is not yet complete as only his
ten brothers are there to bow down to him.
This fulfills the prophecy of the first dream in which the wheat sheaves
of his brothers bow to his. However, the
dream of the sun and moon and eleven stars bow down to him remains to be
fulfilled.
In reading this account I wonder if Joseph might not
have shown compassion to his brothers and immediately revealed himself to
them. After all their actions in selling
him into slavery lead to his ultimate triumph that was foretold in the dreams. He might have realized that their actions
were part of God’s plan for not only Joseph but all of his chosen people. However, we can hardly blame him for wanting some
payback and make his brothers suffer for their evil deeds. But were his actions just the acting out of
his natural desire for revenge or did he have a greater purpose in his actions?
First, Joseph must have known the distress his
action in demanding Benjamin be brought to Egypt would have caused his
father. So why did he take this
action? I believe that his actions were
necessary for there to be true reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers
and his father. If Joseph had immediately
identified himself and welcomed them with open arms there would have always
been a barrier between the brother and him and perhaps the brothers and their
father. They would have always wondered
if Joseph had truly forgiven them and human nature being what it is they might eventually
have secretly or not so secretly resented his good fortune in Egypt just as
they had resented the dreams that foretold these events.
True forgiveness and reconciliation for even minor
offenses much less major injury done to a person’s body and spirit is a process
which cannot be taken lightly or avoided.
It is very easy to say that you forgive someone – even if you believe it
in your head but to find forgiveness for others and for yourself in your heart
does not come easily. It is not a
questions of just saying I forgive which can come early in the process for the
sake of wanting to move on. However, the
resentment can and does remain on a deeper level and can come bubbling to the
surface when we least expect it. If we
are truly to forgive it requires a conversion of the heart which comes from God
and not from our will. Through the grace
of God true forgiveness is possible. Thanks
be to God.
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