Our chapel theme this year, “Faithful,” is rooted in Hebrews 11. The author of Hebrews includes many characters in his “Hall of Faith,” and about a month ago I shared a chapel message on one such character: Joseph. The story of Joseph is likely a familiar one: the favored son of Jacob was betrayed by his jealous brothers and sold into slavery. He was then falsely accused of sexual assault, imprisoned, and forgotten before, in a dramatic reversal, he aids the King of Egypt, is raised to a place of authority, and ultimately saves his family from famine. Interestingly, though, when the author of Hebrews mentions Joseph he does not list any of these aspects of his story. Instead, he writes of the events of Genesis 50.
In the very last chapter of Genesis it seems like Joseph’s story is over. Joseph has revealed his identity to his brothers and father, and his whole family is now safe in Egypt. But when their father dies, Joseph’s brothers get nervous. Anxious that their esteemed brother would now finally get his revenge for their betrayal decades-past, they send a message to Joseph claiming that Jacob, before he died, had declared that Joseph should forgive them. Consumed with their fear, they then come before Joseph, bow down, and say, “We are your slaves.” (v. 18).
Genesis is full of stories of family strife, particularly of that between brothers. Cain kills Abel in humanity’s first murder; Ishmael is sent away by his brother Isaac’s mother; Jacob steals his brother Esau’s birthright and Esau then tries to kill him. Joseph’s brothers perpetuate this cycle when they sell their own brother into slavery. The effects of the Fall (Genesis 3) wreak havoc even amidst God’s chosen family. And so in this final moment of Genesis, 50 chapters into the story of humanity, there is tension as we wait for Joseph’s response. Will he contribute to the violence and pettiness that has so marked those made in God’s image? Or, as this lengthy book comes to a close, are there glimmers of redemption and hope that we can even now read?
17 …When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
In the face of his brothers’ anxious scheming Joseph responds not with anger or a sword but with tears. Why does he weep? I would wager that at least some of Joseph’s emotion is due to frustration. It seems that Joseph’s mind was far from revenge, but his brothers still do not understand him (and perhaps they never have). He says to them,
“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, do not be afraid.”
Joseph is not God, and so he will not pass judgment nor take revenge on his brothers – both of those roles are reserved for the Lord. But even more than this, Joseph sees in the brokenness of his life the hand of God. What his brothers did out of evil, God worked for good. Through Joseph’s life the nation of Egypt and Joseph’s family were saved from the ravages of famine. How could Joseph take revenge when God’s faithfulness was so clearly present? How could he be bitter when he could see the loving hands of his heavenly master moving purposefully in the events of his past?
In many ways, we could all grow to be a lot more like Joseph. There are only two characters in Genesis who speak the words “Do not be afraid”: God, and Joseph. Throughout scripture it is often an angel or a prophet speaking on behalf of God who instructs the terrified human listener, “don’t be scared, don’t be afraid”. But here, Joseph says it twice. He has become like the very God that he has spent his life serving. Joseph’s faithfulness echoes that of his Creator.
It is also worth noting, however, that we do not always receive the gift that Joseph did – that of perceiving with confidence a divine purpose for our life’s events. We don’t always get to see why God allows some things to happen while preventing other things. God does not always reveal the reasoning of his ways. And that is hard.
But Scripture is clear on some things. In the New Testament, we read of Jesus, the son of Joseph. He, too, weeps over the obstinance of his people (Luke 19:41-44) and is betrayed by those closest to him (Luke 22:47-48) even as he uses his position and authority to save the lives of countless people (Mark 10:45). And when he triumphs even over the final enemy of death, rising from the grave, he appears to his friends and says to them, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10). For those who doubted he offered to feel the scars on his hand and the hole in his side (John 20:27).
We may not always receive the gift that Joseph did of knowing why something happened. But we can be sure that God himself has suffered for us. And in our suffering, he is with us (Mt 28:20). He is faithfully with you, and he does not forget. One day he will make all things new, and we will reside in a new creation in which he promises to wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 7:17; 21:4). In the meantime, we may lean on, as Joseph did, a God who is truly, and unchangeably, faithful.
