Lesson 17: Examples of Forgiving – Joseph (part 3)

Read Genesis chapters 42-44.

Joseph’s greatest example of forgiveness came later. After he had told Pharaoh what his dream meant, and Pharaoh made him the second in command of all of Egypt, to be able to get them through the famine God said was coming, Joseph was busy getting the country ready. There were seven years of plentiful harvests to be brought into storage, and additional storage units to be built.

Then the promised famine came, and Joseph was busy making sure all the people had food enough to eat without anything being wasted. One day, to Joseph’s shock and surprise, ten men came to him to ask to buy food – his older brothers.

What would you have felt if it had been you sitting in that seat of power and you saw these brothers who had sold you into slavery those years ago? Can you imagine how you might have remembered the fear as they sold you, the terror as you were sold again as a slave which ended up with you spending years in prison?

Joseph had some decisions to make – not so much about forgiveness, because he had forgiven his brothers years earlier. The question now was whether he would be able to take the next step in the forgiveness process. Would he be able to reconcile with his brothers?


His position of power in the Egyptian government gave him an advantage, but it was also a disadvantage. The advantage was that he stood in a position of power – he had nothing to fear from them ever again. The disadvantage was that he stood in a position of power. How could he ever trust that what they said to him was not because of fear?

Joseph tested his brothers with several things, as you read in the chapters listed above. He needed to know if or how they had changed in the years since he had been gone from the family. He needed to know whom he could trust, so he could tell them he had forgiven them. This was needed so he could be reconciled to his family in truth rather than just because of his position.

Jesus’ command to us in Matthew 5:24 is that we too seek reconciliation as a part of forgiveness. And for Joseph this master-servant relationship he had at this time was not reconciliation. He wanted to be brothers with them, he wanted to see his father and little brother again. He did not want to come to their level, but to draw his brothers up to his level.

When we forgive someone who has wronged us badly, Jesus wants us to do this same thing. Did Joseph’s brothers deserve to be forgiven or to be brought to Joseph’s level of respect in Egypt? No. Does someone who wronged us deserve to be brought into Jesus’ family, so they are equal with us? No, but then we did not deserve His love either. When you forgive and seek reconciliation, bring them to Jesus too so you can be family with them forever.

Prayer today: Lord Jesus, as I forgive [name] today, help me to also draw him/her into relationship with You.