After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers thought that he would take revenge on them for what happened in the past (Genesis 50:15). They still had in mind what they had done to Joseph and they did not feel forgiven by him. Even though Joseph had forgiven them years before, the guilt still generated remorse and they felt they had to pay for it. Reflecting on this, I ask myself:
Have you ever needed to feel forgiven? What kind of thoughts has remorse generated in you?
FORGIVEN 17 YEARS AGO
After showing himself alive to his brothers, Joseph sent for Jacob and all his family to live in Egypt (Genesis 45: 9-10). It was at that moment that Joseph provided forgiveness to all his brothers, telling them that it was not they who took him there, but God (Genesis 45: 7-8). Joseph’s brothers felt his forgiveness while his father Jacob stayed alive in Egypt for seventeen years (Genesis 47:28). It was not until Jacob’s death seventeen years later that Joseph’s brothers were afraid of what he could do to them.
Why did Joseph’s brothers think so? Hadn’t Joseph already forgiven them seventeen years before? What was his concern?
Analyzing this story, it can be seen that Joseph’s brothers still did not feel forgiven by him. The manifested fear that Joseph was going to take revenge on them was a sign that they still felt guilty. This indicates that Joseph’s brothers felt remorse, even sending emissaries to Joseph for forgiveness (Genesis 50:17). Their guilt was so great that they even told Joseph to let them be his slaves (Genesis 50:18).
Why didn’t Joseph’s brothers feel forgiven? Did they believe that Joseph’s forgiveness was insincere?
JOSEPH’S FORGIVENESS WAS SINCERE.
No doubt Joseph had reason enough to take revenge on his brothers. However, Joseph showed impressive maturity, and an ability to turn suffering into strength to overcome the trial. Seeing his brothers, Joseph expressed his forgiveness without reproaching them for anything, encouraging them to think that everything was part of God’s plan (Genesis 45: 5-8). This act showed what was in Joseph’s heart; and that there was no bad intention in it.
The forgiveness manifested by Joseph to his brothers, was an act of love and mercy, not only to them, but to God. Joseph understood that everything he had lived through was part of a plan, and that his brothers were the instruments that God had used. When his brothers feared revenge, Joseph was moved, and instead of judging them, he reassured them with loving words (Genesis 50: 19-21).
WHAT REGRET DOES
Seeing the fear of Joseph’s brothers, one can think of the effects caused by remorse. Remorse is a feeling of deep guilt that a person feels for mistakes or sins committed in the past, generating a state of restlessness. This means that the person with remorse has no peace, nor can he be calm in his thoughts. This was what happened to Joseph’s brothers, feeling after so many years that even his brother had not forgiven them.
Even though Joseph had forgiven his brothers, they needed to feel forgiven. In the same way, it happens with many people who, although they have received forgiveness, still feel guilty for the mistakes or sins they have committed. Feeling guilt is something necessary to be able to seek repentance, however, perpetuating guilt after having been forgiven is something very overwhelming.
HOW TO OVERCOME REGRET?
To overcome regret, we must understand the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a liberating act, which not only frees the person who has failed, but also the aggrieved. The one who has committed the fault needs to understand the value of forgiveness, and that it is important to feel forgiven.
Without a doubt, God wants us to be free from all guilt, since this is synonymous with happiness and bliss (Romans 4:8). In order to overcome remorse and feel forgiven, we must understand the following:
• God does not want us to be slaves to guilt, but free (John 8:36).
• We must honestly accept responsibility for our mistakes and seek repentance. This will help us feel that we are really seeking forgiveness.
• We must believe that God has forgiven us and that our sins are buried in the deep sea (Micah 7:19).
• We must think that God desires our restoration and restitution (Galatians 6:1).
• If someone does not forgive us after we have sincerely asked for forgiveness, we should feel satisfaction that we sought to be forgiven (Romans 12:18).
• We must understand that the person who does not forgive is going through a difficult process. We have to humbly accept the consequences of our actions, as well as pray for the aggrieved so that they also find the courage to forgive. Understanding this will help us to be free from guilt.
CONCLUSION
Joseph’s brothers had not felt true forgiveness until his father Jacob died. They thought that Jacob was the reason why Joseph had not hurt them. However, seventeen years later they had to face the feeling of guilt that kept them restless. Without a doubt, they must have lived through a time of anxiety and uncertainty when they thought that Joseph would take revenge on them.
Only by feeling truly forgiven can we remain calm at all times and humbly face the consequences of our actions. Joseph was able to free his brothers from guilt by ratifying them that he had truly forgiven them, and that it was time to forget the past. Without a doubt, Joseph is one of the greatest signs of love, mercy and forgiveness that we can find in the Bible. He is an inspiration to us who long to be forgiven when we fail, as well as to forgive when we are failed. Let’s follow his example…
Taken from: https://www.reflexiones.cristianas.com/
Adapted and translated by Rafael Martinez