Love and Reconciliation
Joseph said… “it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Gen 45:4-5, Luke 6:27-28)
Jesus teaches controversially that we should love our enemies. This becomes a special teaching because it pushes against the norm; revenge would seem fair, and loving friends is more natural; but doing good to those who hate you and blessing those who curse you – that is really difficult. And yet without this, the meaning of love is lost. Real active love must climb some mountains, scale some walls, beat some odds, overcome obstacles, and tear through rough zones to win someone over. Fortunately, we not only have theory but also example. As he lived and exercised love, Joseph was a type of Christ, and Jesus Christ would himself exemplify what he taught.
Joseph was hated by his brothers early in his life; he carelessly and insensitively shared his dreams that depicted him over all of them, including his parents – and this didn’t go down well with them. The fact that his father Jacob loved him very much only worsened the situation; the envious brothers sought to curtail those dreams, and they ‘killed’ him by selling him as slave to traders from abroad. “Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days… he refused to be comforted… ‘I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.’” (Gen 37:34-35) At a time when communication and media technologies were absent or primitive, the hope of Joseph’s reunion with his family was completely gone. He was betrayed and ‘killed’ by his own brothers.
The events that followed could be summarized as a miraculous resurrection of this Hebrew boy who later becomes Prime Minister in Egypt and rescues the world from a devastating famine; even his own family came and bowed before him! As we see his childhood dreams come true, all hold their breath to see what this now powerful man will do to those who ‘killed’ him. And he started off with well deserving threats that made the vulnerable brothers open up with much humility and weeping. Finally, Joseph would forgive and interpret the events – not from a human point of view but from a divine one: ‘Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me… I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”’ (Gen 45:4-5)
So, God could be orchestrating something interesting through your suffering and disappointments. As Joseph forgave and loved his enemies, and as Jesus forgave and loved his enemies, so are we instructed to be cool-headed at all times; love, do good, bless, and pray for them. God is up to something good that will soon manifest. God bless you!