What would you say to the person who harmed you the most? Have you ever rehearsed that speech? What if they fell into your hands and you had the power to determine their life or their death? Most of us never have that opportunity. But I wonder what we would do.
Jacob heard about the grain in Egypt and sent his sons. What were the odds that the boy sold into slavery by his brothers would now hold their destiny in his hands? Ten brothers went to Egypt to get grain. Jacob did not trust them to take Benjamin with them, still grieving the loss of Benjamin’s full brother Joseph. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately as they bowed down to him. So far was Joseph from their minds, that they did not recognize him.
This story reminds me of Dumas’ book, The Count of Monte Cristo. In that book, Edmund Dantes suffered in the Chateau D’if prison but finally escaped and found a fortune. He went back to his town to settle with the former friend who had sent him to prison. Likewise in Les Miserable, Jean Valjean eventually finds himself in a position to even the score with Jalvert who seeks his punishment. In both cases, the protagonist does not settle the score with his antagonist.
Joseph has his brothers in the palm of his hand. What will he do? For his brothers’ sake, it is good that Joseph has stayed close to God. Ultimately, his treatment of his brothers goes back to his understanding of God’s work in his life. What we believe about God’s providence in our lives will speak volumes about the way we respond to those who harm us. What will we do?
