A Powerful Peacemaker

The life of Joseph is an incredible example of God’s grace at work in the heart of a man who chose to forgive, though he had been horribly wronged. 

You might not think of Joseph as a peacemaker, but throughout his life, there is not one recorded instance of him seeking revenge. In fact, he actively worked to do good to those who wronged him.

His brothers hated him from a young age, and eventually sold him as a slave. Then, they told their father that he had been killed by wild beasts. Then, to all appearances, life in Canaan just went right on without Joseph.

That is, until the famine. Food began to dwindle, and when they heard reports that there was food in the land of Egypt, they decided to go. Little did they know that they were about to come face to face with their long-lost brother.

They didn’t recognize him, so many years had passed, and now he was dressed as a high-ranking Egyptian. In fact, the brother they had so hated had become the second most powerful man in all Egypt! Imagine their surprise, shock, and terror, when Joseph finally revealed his identity.

And yet, while he had tested them to ascertain the state of their hearts, he had already shown himself generous and eager to help his family survive the famine. Not only that, when he had opportunity to berate them for the wrong they had done him, he pointed instead to the truth that God had used it for good. Here is what he said:

“Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5)

He then assured them that he would take care of them through the five remaining years of famine. Not only did he show them his heart of forgiveness and his faith-filled perspective on the events of their past, he also made peace with them by offering to meet their physical needs.

Later on, after their father died, the brothers again feared that Joseph would exact revenge. After all, he was the most powerful man in Egypt, except for Pharaoh, and could have punished them in whatever way he chose.

They sent off a hurried message saying that their father made it his dying wish that he would forgive them, and then cautiously appeared before him, bowing to the ground in humility. Joseph replied:

“Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones.” (Genesis 50:19-21)

Joseph was able to promote his brother’s peace by extending his full and free forgiveness for their wrong. Though he was powerful, he was a peacemaker, and chose to see his brothers as God saw them, and their wrong from the vantage point of the good God chose to bring out of it.

The foundation of being a peacemaker like Joseph is the willingness to set aside grievances and offenses, focusing instead on God and resting in the good He can bring out of even the worst situations.

“But we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)