Joseph Forgives His Brothers

This is the true story of a young man with a colorful coat, and a heart big enough to forgive.

Long ago, Jacob had twelve sons. He loved Joseph the most, and gave him a coat of many colors. Joseph's big brothers were jealous. They couldn't say one kind word to him. Then Joseph dreamed that one day his brothers would bow down to him. That made them crosser than ever! One day, far out in the fields, the brothers saw Joseph coming, and they made a terrible plan.

They pulled off his colorful coat, and put him down into a deep, dry pit. Then they sold him to traders for twenty pieces of silver, and he was taken far away to Egypt. They showed their father the coat, and let him think a wild animal had taken Joseph. Jacob's heart was broken.

Joseph was far from home, and all alone. Or was he? The Bible says, "The Lord was with Joseph." In Egypt, someone told a lie about him, and he was put in prison, though he had done nothing wrong. But even there, God was with him.

Years later, the king of Egypt, called Pharaoh, had a strange dream. Seven skinny cows gobbled up seven fat cows! And they were still just as skinny as before. Nobody could explain it, until one of the king's servants remembered how Joseph had explained his dream in prison. God would give the answer, Joseph said. Seven years of plenty were coming, then seven years of famine, when nothing would grow.

Pharaoh was amazed. He put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt, to store up food for the hungry years. Joseph stored up so much grain, it was like the sand by the sea. He stopped counting! Then the famine came, just as God had said. Back home, Joseph's family was hungry too.

So ten of his brothers went to Egypt to buy food. They bowed down low before the ruler, just like in Joseph's dream. It was Joseph! But they didn't know him. Joseph spoke roughly to them, to test whether their hearts had changed. Then he heard them say this trouble had come because of what they did to their brother long ago. Joseph turned away, and cried.

Next time, they brought their youngest brother, Benjamin, just as Joseph had asked. Then Joseph had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin's sack, and said Benjamin must stay as his servant. Long ago, the brothers had sent Joseph away. But not this time. Judah begged to stay instead, so Benjamin could go home to their father. Their hearts really had changed. And Joseph couldn't hold back his tears any longer. He sent everyone else out, and cried so loudly that the whole palace heard.

Then he said, "I am Joseph! Does my father still live?" His brothers were too frightened to speak. But Joseph said, "Come near to me, please." "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now don't be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life."

Joseph wasn't angry. God had sent him ahead to save many lives, and he forgave his brothers. He hugged Benjamin and cried, and kissed all his brothers. Then they talked together, like a family again. As they left to fetch their father, he told them, "See that you don't quarrel on the way." When old Jacob heard, he could hardly believe it. Then he said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive."

And soon, the whole family was together again.

This story teaches us that forgiving is stronger than getting even. Joseph could have paid his brothers back, but he chose to forgive.

When someone hurts us, God can help us forgive too, and turn sad things into good things.