Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 15, August 20,2023: Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Last week our reading from the Hebrew scriptures took us through the beginning of the story of Joseph; we heard how his brothers, jealous of his father’s love for him, decided to get rid of him. They first propose to kill him; then they think better of it, and plan to just abandon him in a pit in the desert, with no water. They will not have blood on their hands, but he will certainly die. Then finally, they decide to sell him as a slave to merchants traveling to Egypt.
Joseph’s brothers know that what they are doing is wrong. That is why they keep stepping back. They mean harm, but they do not want to be guilty of death.
The lectionary has skipped forward many years. When the story picks us, Joseph, who successfully interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream to mean that there would be seven years of plenty and then seven of famine, had become the governor of the land. There was famine, not just in Egypt, but everywhere. But there is grain in Egypt. His brothers have come for a second time to purchase grain, and on Joseph’s orders, they brought their brother Benjamin. Joseph has fed them and treated them well, but also designed a trap. When they leave, he had a servant put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. When they set out, he sends his steward to follow them, claiming they have stolen his cup; whoever has done so will become Joseph’s slave. The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, and they are hauled before Joseph. At this point Judah intervenes and asks to remain in Benjamin’s stead, as Benjamin’s loss would mean the death of their father.
This is where we pick up the story: Joseph sends all his attendants away, and, weeping, reveals himself to his brothers. They are “dismayed”, which is probably an understatement. They are uncertain about what this means. But Joseph surprises them:
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Joseph turns the story around and sees God’s purpose in his experience: he was saving lives, including those of his father and brothers.
In the years between when he was sold as a slave and when he revealed himself to his brothers he had not just had positions of power: he was also wrongly accused by his master’s wife of sexually assaulting her, and spent at least two years in prison. It is safe to say it had not always been easy. We would not blame Joseph for harboring a bit of resentment against his brothers. And maybe he did: it must have been deliberate that he asked that Benjamin come. And there must have been an easier way to reveal his identity than to wrongly accuse Benjamin of theft.
In spite of whatever resentment Joseph had, he also loved his brothers: he returned the silver they had brought to buy grain. He made sure they had enough, and that his father would have enough. More than that, he tells them that what may have been an evil deed was designed by God to protect life. He offers forgiveness.
Forgiveness is hard. People often say, “forgive and forget”, but it is easier to forgive than to forget. Joseph did not forget. And he makes his brothers squirm. But he does forgive, because he sees that his presence in Egypt has allowed him to save the lives of many people including his brothers and his father. After his brothers have been anxious, they embrace, and he kisses all his brothers. And the relationship is healed: “and after that, his brothers talked with him”.
When people have harmed us, we probably should not forget it: we have learned something about those people. But forgiveness is different: for me at least, it means moving forward from the anger and resentment of whatever harm has been done. This is the case even on occasions when I cannot, like Joseph, find a silver lining to the harm done to me. It allows me to live with myself.
Every Sunday we say the Lord’s Prayer, and ask God to (in the modern translation) “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”. How well do we forgive? Maybe it is helpful to remember how Joseph offered forgiveness: he did not allow his brothers to forget that they had harmed him, but treats them with generosity. And life goes forward.