We finally get to the big reveal in today's chapter. Joseph drops his mask and shows his brothers who he really is. It is a little confusing that he inquires as to their father's life in that Judah was just telling Joseph how upset losing Benjamin would be to Jacob.
As I read between the lines, I almost laugh at the line from verse three, "his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence."
I bet they were dismayed! They were probably terrified!
Has he been stringing us along and now he's going to drop the hammer?
When he calls them to come closer in the next verse, I can almost see the hesitance as they pull in to their brother. You would be tentative in your approach!
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Cats can often represent our ability to
hold a grudge.
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We see Joseph's graciousness on display here. They are in his power and he grants them reprieve from their former betrayal of him. Joseph is even able to see God's hand at work through the hardships he had to endure. After he spends time with each of his brothers, I think their mood is telling in his instructions for them not to quarrel on the way home.
Jesus exemplifies this graciousness in his ministry. He predicts the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter and the desertion of his disciples. Yet, he doesn't fire them all from being his followers. Outside of Judas, who died, Jesus continues to work through them long after the resurrection.
This kind of mercy can only be shown from strength. Joseph knows who he is. He recognizes God working in his life. Jesus also knows who he is and similarly, sees God at work in his life. We see this in his movement to prayer following the difficulties listed above.
Unfortunately, betrayals burn all the more brightly from those we love. They often leave us bitter. We can get over the hurts but sometimes, they still make us hot when we think on them. Forgiving others is the powerful anecdote to the bitterness we know is not doing us any good. It comes from the strength of self that we find in God.
"Forgive our sins as we forgive,"
you taught us, Lord, to pray;
but you alone can grant us grace
to live the words we say.
How can your pardon reach and bless
the unforgiving heart
that broods on wrongs
and will not let old bitterness depart?
In blazing light your cross reveals
the truth we dimly knew:
what trivial debts are owed to us,
how great our debt to you!
Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls,
and bid resentment cease;
then, bound to all in bonds of love,
our lives will spread your peace.
Prayer from the hymn, "Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive" written by Rosamond E. Herklots, 1966.
Photo by UnknownNet Photography via Flickr.com. Used under the Creative Commons license.
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