The power of forgiveness in Joseph’s story

One of the central themes in the story of Joseph is forgiveness. His brothers betrayed him in the worst ways-they beat him, threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery, and deceived their father into believing he was dead. Despite these hardships, Joseph remained faithful to God, and because of his unwavering trust, he was blessed even in difficult circumstances. Years later, when a famine struck the land, Joseph-now in a position of great power in Egypt-found himself face-to-face with the very brothers who had once betrayed him. They had come seeking food, unaware that the man standing before them was the brother they had wronged. This moment could have been an opportunity for revenge, but instead, Joseph chose compassion, mercy, and for- giveness (Genesis 45:1-15). At one point, his broth ers feared he might finally retaliate, but Joseph reas sured them with a powerful perspective: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20, NKJV) Even in a moment where vengeance seemed justified, Joseph chose to see God’s plan at work. His ability to forgive wasn’t based on emotions but on his deep faith in God. We all face moments when we must choose between holding onto resentment or extending forgiveness. When that time comes, will you choose to forgive as Joseph did? If God is your constant, He will give you the strength to let go of past wrongs and embrace the freedom that comes with forgiveness.