Forgiveness can be so difficult to navigate.
Because the adversary wants us to believe that if we forgive someone, we have said that what they did was okay, and that we are releasing them from all their consequences.
But that is just not true.
Long after Joseph’s brothers threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave, they were almost shocked to discover that Joseph had forgiven them.
Even YEARS later, after their father Jacob died, the brothers were afraid that Joseph had just been putting on an act for their dad.
And that now he would retaliate.
Because who would actually forgive their brothers for doing something like they had done?
But Joseph dismissed their groveling after their father had died and said:
“Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” (Genesis 50:21)
Can you imagine forgiving family members for saying terrible things about you, physically harming you, devaluing you, and literally removing you from the family for 22 years?
And yet, Joseph forgave.
That didn’t change how wrong the brothers had been.
And it didn’t affect any divine consequences that our perfect Judge would dole out.
But it gave Joseph joy and peace.
We don’t know how much Joseph interacted with his brothers after they all moved to Egypt.
Maybe Joseph had strong boundaries with certain brothers, and kept a respectful distance.
Maybe Joseph felt prompted to fully embrace them and let them into his life.
But his words at the end of Genesis tell us that he was ready to comfort and nourish them as needed.
The adversary is so good at feeding us lies about forgiving those who have wronged us, even in very serious degrees.
But the Savior commands us all to forgive.
Why? To find that internal peace, and truly turn it all over to God.
When have you seen blessings from forgiveness in your life?
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
