Whenever the patriarch (or matriarch) of a family dies, there’s always a shift in the power structure. In royal families, this could mean a massive rush for the throne. In regular families, it’s an argument over who gets the last piece of chicken at the family dinner.
With Jacob out of the picture, all of the brothers are in a state of limbo. They look at Joseph and the relationship he had with Jacob and wonder the obvious question: With Jacob gone, will Joseph finally take his long-awaited revenge?
It’s not a completely dishonest question. Remember that when the brothers first arrived in Egypt, Joseph tested them for months to find out whether or not they had actually changed. He tested their integrity, and as far as we can tell, found them to be truly honorable men (now).
On the other hand, it’s an incredibly sad position to hold. Remember that these brothers had lived in Egypt for more than 15 years, so for them to hold on to this guilt and fear that Joseph could strike at any time is a torturous existence.
Joseph feels this. In Genesis 50:17, Joseph weeps when he hears their question. As far as we can tell, he’s done nothing to make them afraid of his retribution, so their hesitancy indicates their relationship had been somewhat strained all those years.
At this point, it’s worth pointing out just how much power Joseph actually does have. He has a few options: Either he can (a) punish them for selling him into slavery, or (b) he can forgive them. His position in Egypt puts both options at his full disposal.
But he also has a third option. Instead of simply forgiving them, Joseph sees his own slavery as an eventual good in his life.
This perspective is truly enlightening, because it shows the path that Joseph took through forgiveness and to God. In other words, the way that Joseph was able to forgive his brothers was because he saw a higher purpose behind what happened to him. Would we have the maturity to take such a position?
It’s here that most people will use the cliche that “God had a plan,” but that idea is foreign to the Text in Genesis 50. The argument is not that “God had a plan,” and that plan involved Joseph, it’s that God has the ability to turn negatives into positives. It’s a testament to God’s power, not His knowledge.
Several hundred years later, Mordecai would make a similar argument to Esther. After arriving to her station as the Queen of Persia, she could have just eased into a life of comfort. Instead, Mordecai challenges her to see the purpose of her position: “Who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
Beyond all this, Joseph knows that it’s not his right to exact vengeance anyways. “Am I in God’s place?” He asks (Genesis 50:19). He reassures them that he will continue to provide for them and their families, speaking words of comfort and kindness to his former oppressors.