One of the
most emotional stories of the Old Testament would have to be the reunion of
Joseph of Egypt and his brothers. The story usually evokes the injustice
perpetrated on Joseph and his ensuing benevolent forgiveness. Very seldom do
we, however, recognize the remorse and recompense of his brothers in this
scenario.
This heart
rendering story begins with the brothers coming to Egypt and being recognized
by Joseph who is unwilling to offer forgiveness so quickly. At Joseph’s
accusation of spying, the brothers immediately recognized it was pay-back time
for what they did to their brother. As the thread of reconciliation began to
unravel, Joseph heard their guilt and wept unseen (Genesis 42:21-24).
In his
clever plot to deepen his brothers’ guilt into remorse, Joseph imprisoned
Simeon and requested the brothers bring back Benjamin. This request was too
much for Jacob who lamented he was bereaved of his children (Genesis 42:36-38).
So affected
was Reuben by his father’s grief that he offered him to ‘slay’ two of his sons
if he doesn’t bring Simeon and Benjamin back to him (42:36,37). This is the
point of the story that seared my heart. I could feel Reuben’s genuine love for
his father and the remorse for what his sons had put him through. What is even
more heart rendering is that Reuben, the oldest of the brothers, was the one
who averted the brothers’ murderous plot by persuading them to lower Joseph
into a pit so he could rescue him later (37;21,22). He was the least guilty yet
he offered the lives of two of his sons in recompense.
The second
least guilty was Judah who suggested the brothers sell Joseph to the
Ishmaelites rather than kill him (37:26,27). He too stepped forward to pay the
price. He promised his father that he will remain in Egypt as collateral for
Benjamin and he will ‘bear the blame for ever’ (43:9)
When Joseph
saw his brothers back in Egypt and Benjamin with them, the self-restraint could
only be placated with his weeping (43:30)
The straw
that broke the camel’s back came through Joseph’s attempt to keep Benjamin in
Egypt through deception. Judah begged to be kept behind instead so that he
didn’t have to see the sorrowful demise of his father (44:32-34).
Seeing the
lengths his brothers would go to in payment for what they had done, Joseph knew
the time for forgiveness had come. As he revealed himself to his brothers ‘he
wept so loud, the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard…..and he kissed all
his brethren and wept upon them….’ (45:2,15)
The
absolution came as Joseph openly gave credit to God claiming that it was He who
sent him to Egypt to preserve his brothers ‘posterity in the earth and ‘to save
their lives by great deliverance’’ (45:5-8).
Sometimes the path to repentance and absolution is like that....rough and unforeseen.
Joseph paid
a high price so he can physically save the House of Israel….a prototype of
Christ who paid an even greater price to save the entire human family for
eternity. When He comes again, the repentant shall weep at His feet in gratitude
for the price He paid at Calvary’s hill while the wicked will weep for their
rejection of their Saviour and their King.
Will
the sinner for whom You suffered,
Who
rejected and reviled Thee
Weep
in the end for Thy pain and Thy sorrow?
Will
his heart understand
When
he kneels before Thee
The
debt he owes for the existence
Of
his tomorrow?
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Home by David Bowman)
