Repentance is Mine
Genesis 44:1-17
Why is Joseph being so deceitful toward his brothers?
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the top of his sack. Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. When they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, “Go, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup? Is it not from this that my lord drinks? Does he not indeed use it for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’” When he overtook them, he repeated these words to them. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing! Look, the money that we found at the top of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? Should it be found with any one of your servants, let him die; moreover the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.” He said, “Even so; in accordance with your words, let it be: he with whom it is found shall become my slave, but the rest of you shall go free.” Then each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. He searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. At this they tore their clothes. Then each one loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city. Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house while he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that one such as I can practice divination?” And Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; here we are then, my lord’s slaves, both we and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the one in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.” - Genesis 44:1-17
What does Joseph want from his brothers?
It appears that he wants the father to come. Keeping Benjamin will surely bring his father, since Joseph and Benjamin are the two sons the father truly loved.
Yes, that sounds terrible in today’s world, but let’s face it, parents sometimes have a favorite child.
Oh, how nice it is to be that child.
But there is more to Joseph’s deceit. He wants his brothers to repent.
They have shown regret, but have not repented.
One could argue, however, that Joseph wants to bask in the moment. He dreamt of the brothers bowing before him, and he wants to experience that for real.
We Christians tend to think that repentance is passe, the stuff of street-corner prophets with signs in our cities.
Doesn’t the Gospel teach us that Jesus died for our sins? What does that mean? Aren’t we automatically forgiven for any sins we commit?
But repentance is not for us alone.
Remember the Prodigal Son who came home telling his father that he had sinned against God and against his father?
Repentance is for the one we hurt as much as it is for us in our relationship with God.
The brothers need to seek forgiveness from the one they harmed. They need to know that Joseph is alive and that Joseph forgives them.
Without their repentance, they will live out their lives with guilt.
So, repentance is our way of shedding what is holding us back, what is keeping us from being fully alive.
It is good to know that God forgives us for our sins when we repent and seek that forgiveness. But we need to make the first step.
It will be granted freely by God’s grace.
But the forgiveness from the one we hurt is altogether different.
That is harder to get. Remember that Jesus said before you offer your gift at the altar, go to your brother and make things right with him.
This Lent, we can set things right.
God, help us all to be courageous enough to repent and seek forgiveness from those we have hurt.
More to come...