The brothers who sold Joseph expected revenge. He gave them Genesis 50:20 instead

When their father died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid. For seventeen years in Egypt, Jacob’s presence had protected them. Now they expected the brother they had sold into slavery to settle the score.

They sent a message first, claiming their father had asked Joseph to forgive them. Then they came in person, fell down before him and said, “Behold, we be thy servants.” Joseph wept.

What they had done

The story begins in Genesis 37. Joseph is his father’s favourite son, the one with the coat of many colours and the dreams in which his brothers bow down to him. His brothers hate him for it. When he comes to find them in the fields, they strip him of his coat, throw him into a pit, and sell him to traders heading to Egypt for twenty pieces of silver. They dip his coat in goat’s blood and let their father believe a wild animal killed him.

In Egypt, Joseph becomes a slave in the house of Potiphar, is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and ends up in prison. Years pass. He interprets dreams for Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, and eventually for Pharaoh himself, warning of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh puts him in charge of Egypt’s food supply.

The famine brings them back

When the famine reaches Canaan, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy grain and bow before the governor, not recognising him. Joseph tests them over several chapters. When he finally reveals himself in Genesis 45, he tells them not to be grieved or angry with themselves, “for God did send me before you to preserve life”. The whole family moves to Egypt.

The verse

After Jacob’s death, the fear returns, and Joseph answers it in Genesis 50, verses 19 and 20: “Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Three things are in that answer. Joseph refuses to play God and take revenge. He does not pretend the wrong was small; he names it plainly as evil. And he sees God at work through it, bringing good out of what was meant for harm. He then promises to provide for them and their children, and he speaks kindly to them.

What forgiveness looks like here

It tells the truth. “Ye thought evil against me.” Forgiveness in this story is not saying “it was nothing”.

It gives up the right to revenge. “Am I in the place of God?” Joseph had the power to punish his brothers. He chose not to use it.

It looks for God’s purpose. Joseph did not see the purpose while he was in the pit or in prison. He saw it looking back, years later.

It acts. “I will nourish you, and your little ones.” Joseph’s forgiveness came with food, land and protection.

A prayer

Lord, you know the wrongs done against me and the names of the people who did them. Help me to tell the truth about what happened without holding on to revenge. Where others meant harm, work for good, and give me the grace to forgive as Joseph forgave. Amen.

The brothers came expecting to become Joseph’s servants. They left with a promise that he would feed their children.