Make the First Move

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”  But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”  When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
Genesis 45:3-5

In this epic conclusion of the story of Joseph, we see one of the most powerful displays of unconditional love, forgiveness, and surrender recorded in the Bible.

Joseph had every reason to be angry at his brothers. Out of jealousy, his eleven brothers threw him into a ditch, sold him into slavery, and lied to their father claiming that he had died.  And because of this incident, Joseph ended up being sent to Egypt, seduced, thrown in jail, and endured multiple hardships before ending up in Pharaoh’s court.  Yet, despite all of the trouble his brothers had put him through, Joseph does not harbor unforgiveness, resentment, or even an inkling of bitterness.  Instead, Joseph responds in love. 

Before his brothers even ask for his forgiveness, he goes before them to extend his gracious forgiveness. When he sees his brothers standing terrified before him, he goes the extra mile to assure them that they are loved. And most significantly, Joseph sees things from God’s perspective and affirms that what they intended for evil, God transformed for good.

APPLICATION:

When someone wrongs you, do you have an easy time extending love back to them?  While I wish I could respond with an unequivocal “yes” myself, if I’m honest, there are times where I struggle with this.  My hurts and my pride can prevent me from seeing things God’s way, and instead I prioritize my desire to be right over love and forgiveness. 

Here, Joseph reminds us that we are not only to choose to love and forgive others; we are to extend love and forgiveness to others before they even ask for it.  God calls us to make the first move––to move past resentment, identify the needs of others, and trade bitterness for humility.  Most importantly, as Christians, we are to see things through God’s perspective, knowing that even if others had intentions to hurt or harm us, God will always transform it for our good, as He promised in Romans 8:28.  And through God’s redemption and transformation of evil into good, we can find peace, solace, and closure knowing that the pain we endured did not go to waste.