When someone commits harm toward someone or something of value to us, we get upset. Instinctually, this feeling drives us to want to get back at the guilty party and return the action toward them. Of course if we all gave in to this desire, our society would be in utter chaos constantly, thus we have learned to contain and internalize our drives toward revenge and can walk away from a conflict. However, when one steps away from a conflict, their feelings toward the offender do not fade away, and it takes the ability to forgive to rid us of our desire toward revenge and the anger that has been stored since the offense. This begs the question: What is forgiveness? Forgiveness can be varied in definition depending on the context of who you
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Interestingly, his ability to do so demonstrates a high level of trust with his brothers, as his test proved that most of the brothers were more than willing to sell out Benjamin. Joseph could have had good reason to still be enraged at his brothers for not only their wrongdoings toward him, but for not realizing the wrong in their actions and attempting to to a similar act to Benjamin. However, after Judah, who would also state that he feared that if their father “saw the lad was not with us, he would die” (44.31), pleas to save Benjamin, Joseph cracks. The fact that his father felt so attached not only to Benjamin, but to himself still as well, not only gave Joseph reason to save Benjamin, but entrusted him with the faith that if their father was still as concerned as he was, that the bothers may have at least a fraction of guilt for their actions. Even as Judah is the sole brother to express it, finding even the smallest trace of justice gives Joseph the ability for forgiveness and reconciliation to be achieved. After being overwhelmed with a flood of emotions, Joseph calls out to his brothers, “do not be pained and do not be incensed with yourselves that you sold me down here, because for sustenance of god has sent me before you” (45.5-.6). This statement is a clear message of forgiveness, as the command to not be enraged or upset over the exile of Joseph to Egypt shows that Joseph no longer harbors any ill-feelings toward them for their actions. As proof of his change in feelings, he sought Pharaoh to allow his father and brothers in Egypt to avoid the famine, to which Pharaoh gifted them some of the most prized land in Egypt. For the past twenty years, Joseph sought for his brothers to feel the pain of their misdeeds toward him, thus once Judah shows some semblance of grief, Joseph’s wishes are complete and he is better able to forgive the misdeeds and reconcile with his
Interestingly, his ability to do so demonstrates a high level of trust with his brothers, as his test proved that most of the brothers were more than willing to sell out Benjamin. Joseph could have had good reason to still be enraged at his brothers for not only their wrongdoings toward him, but for not realizing the wrong in their actions and attempting to to a similar act to Benjamin. However, after Judah, who would also state that he feared that if their father “saw the lad was not with us, he would die” (44.31), pleas to save Benjamin, Joseph cracks. The fact that his father felt so attached not only to Benjamin, but to himself still as well, not only gave Joseph reason to save Benjamin, but entrusted him with the faith that if their father was still as concerned as he was, that the bothers may have at least a fraction of guilt for their actions. Even as Judah is the sole brother to express it, finding even the smallest trace of justice gives Joseph the ability for forgiveness and reconciliation to be achieved. After being overwhelmed with a flood of emotions, Joseph calls out to his brothers, “do not be pained and do not be incensed with yourselves that you sold me down here, because for sustenance of god has sent me before you” (45.5-.6). This statement is a clear message of forgiveness, as the command to not be enraged or upset over the exile of Joseph to Egypt shows that Joseph no longer harbors any ill-feelings toward them for their actions. As proof of his change in feelings, he sought Pharaoh to allow his father and brothers in Egypt to avoid the famine, to which Pharaoh gifted them some of the most prized land in Egypt. For the past twenty years, Joseph sought for his brothers to feel the pain of their misdeeds toward him, thus once Judah shows some semblance of grief, Joseph’s wishes are complete and he is better able to forgive the misdeeds and reconcile with his