“But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
Forgiveness. What a simple word…right? We grow up learning to “say sorry” after we mess up as if that will make everything better, the mantra “forgive and forget” is casually tossed around as if we can think ourselves into forgiving, and when pain from betrayal surfaces, we’re frequently told to simply “move on” because “it’s not that deep.” But sometimes, it is that deep. Forgiveness is hard. So how do we do it well? In Genesis 45:3-15, we’re given intimate access to a tearful story of forgiveness. Joseph, the boy whose brothers sold him into slavery then faked his death, is reunited with those very brothers. Amazingly, Joseph does not meet his brothers with rage or disdain. Instead, he comforts them and says, “do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves…” (Gen 45:5). Rather than curse his brothers, he blesses his father’s lineage and promises offspring and land (Gen. 45:10). This story simultaneously baffles me and resonates. On the one hand, I cannot understand how Joseph not only graciously encountered his brothers but also encouraged them as the future tribes of Israel. Normal human reactions to being sold into slavery by siblings would be anger, hate, betrayal, or vengeance. Perhaps Joseph did feel those feelings, at first. There is no denying the presence of pain as we read that Joseph wept upon his brothers (Gen 45:11). Yet, by the time Joseph reunited with his brothers, he had found a way to temper his reaction. That way was a relationship with God. Joseph met his brothers by claiming that God sent him; meaning that God was with him (Gen 45:5). On the other hand, this is how the story resonates. When I try to forgive someone on my own accord, I struggle. I think that the other is the one in the wrong, the one who needs to change. Yet, when I pray on the forgiveness that is needed, when I ask God to guide me and I own my responsibility, forgiving like Joseph did becomes easier. Like Joseph, the pain and sense of betrayal may still exist. I may still weep. However, God gives the strength and courage to love, bless, and pray for those by whom we feel wronged. So next time someone in our lives needs forgiveness, may we remember Joseph and turn to God. |