A FORGIVENESS “PRANK”

Although it ended well, Joseph’s life was filled with many difficult experiences, most of which could be traced back to the jealousy and betrayal of his brothers.

He had been sold as a slave in a distant country and, without God’s intervention, would likely have spent the rest of his life enslaved. So when his brothers came to Egypt seeking food for their families, Joseph had a profound choice to make.

He was now in a position of power. His family included both people who had loved him and people who had caused him great harm. He could help them, or he could hurt them. He could seek revenge, or he could restore the relationship with his family.

Instead of approaching this situation directly, it seems Joseph chose to play a prank on his brothers, perhaps partly as a test of the character of his older brothers—whether they had changed or grown—but also to see how they would respond to an unexpected kindness. On their second visit to Egypt, necessitated by the ongoing famine, the brothers were acutely aware of the dangerous position they would be in if they were accused of stealing from this powerful foreign official. So Joseph had his manager rebuff their concerns and lay the ground for him to reveal his identity to his brothers. Human relationships are often complex.

Fear is often a component of relationships. We fear being alone, but connecting with others requires vulnerability, meaning fear of rejection and betrayal.

Joseph needed a way to reconnect with his brothers.

While he was testing his brothers, he was doing so with kindness, but finding out if it was safe for him to identify himself to them.