Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful and thought, “Suppose Joseph has been nursing a grudge against us and now most certainly will pay us back in full for all the wrong we did him!” 16 So they sent to Joseph and said: “Before your father died, he gave us these instructions: 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: Please forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you harmfully.’ So now please forgive the crime that we, the servants of the God of your father, committed.” When they said this to him, Joseph broke into tears. 18 Then his brothers also proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “We are your slaves!” 19 But Joseph replied to them: “Do not fear. Can I take the place of God? 20 Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people. 21 So now, do not fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.
The brothers recognize the evil they committed by selling Joseph into slavery (cf. Gen. 37:26-28). Their fear arises because Jacob, the family patriarch, has died and they worry that Joseph may seek vengeance now that Jacob is no longer there to mediate. They claim Jacob left instructions for Joseph to forgive them, appealing to his authority and attempting to mitigate their guilt. The brothers offer themselves as Joseph’s slaves which, in this case, symbolizes repentance and is an act of submission and fear.
Joseph recognizes that God used his brothers’ evil acts to fulfill His divine plan. As Paul writes, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God” (Rom. 8:28). Joseph acknowledges that the suffering he endured was part of God’s plan to save not only his family but also countless others during the famine (Gen. 41:53-57). He reassures his brothers, explicitly offering forgiveness and promising to care for them and their children. This act demonstrates Christlike mercy, prefiguring Jesus’ teaching to love one’s enemies (Mt. 5:44) and His forgiveness of those who wronged Him.
In this way, Joseph’s mercy prefigures Jesus’ prayer on the Cross: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do”(Lk. 23:34). Both Joseph and Jesus offer forgiveness to those who wronged them, recognizing that God’s greater purpose is at work. Just as Joseph’s forgiveness led to physical salvation for his family during the famine, Jesus’ forgiveness on the Cross secures spiritual salvation for humanity.
Almighty God, help us to forgive as Joseph did and to recognize Your hand at work in all things. Grant us the grace us to reflect the mercy of Christ in our lives. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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