This week's Torah portion brings us to the climax of the narrative of the life
of Joseph. It is in this week's portion that Joseph reveals his true identity to
his brothers. Not only does he reveal his identity but he confronts their sin.
He tells them, Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you
sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life, Gen. 45:5. In
this statement we see Joseph as a type of Messiah. In fact, this story serves as
a good illustration of the main focus of today's message on Eph. 1:7 which says,
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Of course, Joseph did not
redeem his brothers through his blood the way Yeshua did, but in his statement
Joseph releases his brothers from the slavery of guilt which is what Yeshua did
for us. In the whole narrative of the life of Joseph, we see an interesting
transformation in the deportment of the sons of Jacob. After they sell Joseph
into slavery, they seem to be driven by a sense by guilt. Notice their concern
for the life of Benjamin. They feel bad that Jacob has lost one son so they do
their best to preserve his youngest.
Driven
by this guilt over what they had done, Joseph's statement must have made a great
impact on them - do not be grieved or angry with yourselves. Joseph
statement is extremely insightful. By forgiving them but he "takes them off
the hook". By his attitude, he frees them from the bondage of guilt. When
Yeshua died for our sins and rose from the dead, he paid a ransom price for us.
This is defined in Eph. 1:7 as "through His blood". He could
forgive us because the price was paid. God's forgiveness, unlike any other sort
of forgiveness comes through the death of Messiah. Although Joseph did not die
for their sins, he does forgive them with the result that they should not be
grieved with themselves. Joseph serves as a great role model for us. When we
forgive someone for hurting us we must die to self. To forgive means that we do
not extract a price for reconciliation.
In
a sense we pay the price when we forgive. We live with the consequences of their
sin, yet let them off the hook. Yeshua paid the price for our sins. Joseph paid
the price of not demanding justice from his brothers but rather he showed them
great mercy and blessed them. The illustration of Joseph is so precious because
he had to forgive his brothers. The people that hurt us the most are often the
people in our own family.
May
we be encouraged by the story of Joseph and start the new year with a fresh
start by forgiving those who have hurt us, just as Messiah forgave us.
Shabbat
Shalom.