Of all the things in the Joseph story that I find remarkable, Gen 45:24 may be the most interesting. Joseph, you recall, was sold to slavers by his brothers. Years later, risen to a position of power in Egypt, the brothers come to him for food. It’s a dramatic story, especially the part where Joseph tells his brothers who he really is.
The verse I’m referring to says, “Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Don't quarrel on the way!’”
The brothers would have had plenty to quarrel about. The decision to sell Joseph wasn’t unanimous. The decision to lie to Jacob about it was, but now that lie was exposed. Their chickens were coming home to roost, and it was time to parcel out the blame.
Why didn’t Joseph just let them pick away at each other? Why not let them work through the unpleasantness of their sin against him? After all, it won’t hurt anyone if they argue, and it might be good for them to have it out in the open. And a little misery for them might be fun to think about.
Could it be that Joseph’s love was stronger than his need for payback? Even payback for such a betrayal as being sold off like a cow? Joseph’s life story is told in scripture as a foreshadowing of what Jesus would do for us, and petty stuff like paybacks wasn’t even on Jesus radar screen.
What about for me, someone who has taken Jesus' name and calls himself Christian? I guess paybacks, even the little ones, are out for me too. Getting even is for people who don’t know grace.
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