God’s plan and will for Joseph (5)
Joseph’s father Jacob, who lived 130 years of few and difficult pilgrimage (Gen. 47:8-9),
Lived in Egypt 17 years and the years of his life were 147 (v. 28).
When the time drew near for him to die, he said to Joseph not to bury him in Egypt
but to carry him out of Egypt and bury him where his fathers were buried (vv. 29-30).
When he was ill, he blessed Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (ch. 48)
And then he called for his sons and spoke to them and died (ch. 49).
Then Joseph got permission from Pharaoh the king of Egypt
and buried his father Jacob in a graveyard in the land of Canaan as he swore to Jacob (49:4-14).
Joseph, who lamented for his father Jacob for 7 day period (50:10)
returned to Egypt together with his brothers after he buried his father (v. 14).
But after Jacob died (vv. 19, 21), Joseph’s brothers were afraid and said,
“What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” (v. 15)
So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died:
‘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” (vv. 16-17).
When their message came to him, Joseph wept (v. 17).
Jesus wept too (Jn. 11:35).
Why did Joseph weep? Why did he weep when he received the message from his brothers?
Did he weep because his brothers made that words and lied to him
even though their father Jacob didn’t say it?
Did he weep for pity when he thought of his brothers who feared him?
Did he weep because his brothers were asking him for forgiveness even though he already did so?
Joseph, who mourned for seven days for his father Jacob, wept again because of his brothers.
He wept for his brothers who didn’t even shed tears of repentance.
We must shed tears of repentance.
We must repent of our sins of hating our brothers and sisters and of jealousy.
We must repent of the sins that we caused them to suffer greatly.
We must repent of our sins of not being in peace with our brothers and sisters.
We must repent of our sins that we have seriously hurt our parents’ hearts.
We must repent our great sins against God.
We must shed tears of forgiveness.
We must forgive our brothers and sisters.
We must forgive our parents.
Joseph already forgave his brothers.
That was why when his brothers came and threw themselves down before him and said,
“We are your slaves” (v. 18) this is what Joseph said to them:
“Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children” (vv. 19-21).
And he assured them and spoke kindly to them (v. 21).
How could Joseph forgive his brothers? It was because he tasted God's goodness (Ps. 34:8).
Joseph was able to forgive his brothers because he experienced God’s goodness when
His brothers intended to harm him, but God intended it for good to accomplish His good will
(Gen. 50:20).
This is true forgiveness.
True forgiveness is possible when we experience God’s goodness.
Even if our brothers, sisters or parents intentionally harass us, hurt us and cause us to cry many times,
We can forgive them when we experience our good God who even causes all those things
to accomplish His good will (Cf. Rom. 8:28).
True forgiveness includes passive forgiveness and active forgiveness.
Passive forgiveness is not to hate them anymore.
Active forgiveness is to love them more than before. It is to supply, to give and to speak kindly to them.
Heavenly Father actively forgave us in Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father gave us eternal love, eternal life, eternal hope, heaven citizenship.
He sent us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father has made us precious and precious children.
Hallelujah!