When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”
Genesis 50:15 NIV
After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers were filled with dread. Though many years had passed since they betrayed him, fear returned with force. Without their father to shield them, they believed that Joseph had not forgiven them and might finally take revenge for the wrongs they had done.
In their anxiety, they sent a message to Joseph, claiming it was their father’s dying wish that he forgive them. Then they approached him personally, humbled and afraid, offering themselves as his slaves. Yet what they failed to realise is that Joseph had already forgiven them. He had long released them from blame and had moved on with a heart full of grace, not resentment.
Still, they lived as though Joseph had not forgiven them. They failed to grasp the freedom that comes with true forgiveness. Their guilt remained—not because Joseph refused mercy, but because they refused to accept what he had already offered.
This response mirrors the journey of many believers today. Although God has forgiven us through the finished work of Christ, we often carry guilt as though our sins still define us. We wonder if God has truly forgotten our past or if we remain under judgment, despite His word declaring us free.
Joseph’s reply was gracious and full of divine wisdom. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:19–20).
Joseph not only forgave them, but he reassured them. He promised to care for them and their families, speaking kindly and with compassion. In doing so, he mirrored the heart of our Heavenly Father—a God who does not just declare us forgiven, but welcomes us to live in the fullness of that reality.
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was complete. Christ cleanses us through His blood. He sets us free from the shame and condemnation that once held us captive. Yet when we fail to embrace the truth that He has forgiven us, we risk living as if the cross were not enough. We carry unnecessary burdens, struggling under guilt that no longer belongs to us.
Joseph’s understanding of God’s sovereignty is powerful. He recognised that, although his brothers acted with harmful intent, God used it for a greater good. What seemed like a tragedy became a testimony of divine purpose.
In the same way, God can redeem even our deepest regrets. The enemy may try to trap us in the past, but Christ calls us forward—into a life defined not by shame, but by grace. We are the forgiven, called to walk in liberty, not bondage.
Living It Out
Are you living as someone who is truly forgiven, or are you still weighed down by guilt that God has already lifted?
Today, choose to accept the forgiveness Christ has secured for you. Leave the past behind and step into the joy and peace that come with grace. You are no longer a slave to shame—you are a beloved child of God, redeemed and restored.
Remember, the cross was more than enough.