Don’t close the door

Robert Allan February 23, 2025 5 2

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Genesis 45: 1-15 (NRSVA)

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

The musical “Joseph” is probably my favourite of all musicals. My family and I had the pleasure of seeing it onstage in London several years ago when Lee Mead had won the competition on television to play the lead role. The music of Andrew Lloyd Webber was stirring and the production breathtaking, but it is the story that lies at the heart of this musical that makes it great. A story of forgiveness, after all that Joseph had to endure because of his brothers’ jealousy and their subsequent selling of him into slavery. Yes, it all worked out in the end, and even Joseph could see only good and God’s hand in everything, but it was a rough road that Joseph travelled. I’m not so sure we would have been as forgiving, would we? This is a powerful story of forgiving love. 

I have lost count of how many times I have come across families where there is tension, fall-out, breakdown in relationships, and not because of some great motive that God had planned, but simple misunderstandings, cross words and hurtful words traded, or drifting that was allowed to go on unchecked. Surely there is a way back? Surely there can be reconciliation? It might mean you have to make the first move though. May Joseph’s story continue to dazzle the stage in years to come, but more importantly may it inspire more stories of forgiveness today.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you never close the door on us. We thank you that, through the Cross, you offer us forgiveness. As we accept it, may we share it, bringing reconciliation and restoring loving relationships. Amen.