Revenge Is a Dish Best Served…with a Bag of Money?

It’s been twenty years since Joseph last saw his brothers. Twenty years since they threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery. How do you think he felt seeing them again? They betrayed him, and now here they are before him, and he’s in a position to take revenge for what they did. But instead, Joseph gives them grain, provisions, and money.

In this story, Joseph is an example of how to begin reconciliation. He doesn’t just forgive them immediately, but he also doesn’t turn his back on them. Joseph does not let his anger and hurt drive his decision, but instead gives them a chance to show they have changed. Yes, he is distrustful—he has a right to be. But by keeping Simeon in his custody and giving them grain, provisions, and returning their money, he is truly giving them a chance to prove they have changed. They could easily go home, leave Simeon to rot in Egypt, and keep their prizes.

But when they find the money, they’re worried. They ask, “What is it that God has done to us?” This deep regret has left them in a state of paranoia, unable to see this as a gift because they know they don’t deserve it. They truly regret what their anger and jealousy did to Joseph and refuse to do that to another brother. Verses 42:21-22 shows Joseph their sincerity and gives Joseph a glimmer of hope for reconciliation with the family he lost long ago.

Joseph had every right to be angry with his brothers, yet he chose to give them a chance. He shows us the importance of letting go of past hurts and embracing a spirit of forgiveness. Holding onto grudges only serves to perpetuate cycles of bitterness and resentment, ultimately hindering our own growth and healing. By choosing forgiveness over revenge, we open the door to healing and restoration, both for ourselves and for those who have wronged us—especially those who feel true remorse.

As followers of Christ, we are called to embody this spirit of forgiveness, and as impossible as it may seem, we remember that through God, nothing is impossible. We are called to extend grace to those who have wronged us and desire forgiveness, just as we have received grace and forgiveness from God. And in doing so, we participate in the redemptive work of God, bringing healing and reconciliation to a broken world.