Tuesday, September 8, 2026
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:15-21)
This is one of the saddest passages in the Bible. Joseph’s brothers have been living in Egypt under Joseph’s protection for 17 years now. As the de facto ruler of Egypt, he’s provided them with houses, land, food, and everything they need. And yet, they can’t forget that long ago they sinned against Joseph by selling him as a slave into Egypt. They fear that now, Joseph will finally take his revenge.
It isn’t Joseph’s fault! Joseph has made it clear that he forgives them. But people tend to judge the hearts of others by what they know of themselves. The brothers can’t believe because they know that they themselves would never behave that generously. And so they hold on to their disbelief and fear through 17 years of silent worry.
They aren’t the only ones to behave like this. How many of us do the same thing with God? We know we deserve punishment. And we know, also, that we aren’t good at forgiving others who treat us badly. So when Jesus says to us, “Your sins are forgiven. I love you, and you are Mine”—well, it’s hard for us to believe Him. How could such a wonderful thing be true?
But it is. It doesn’t matter how terrible we’ve been or what evil we’ve come out of—Jesus really does want us, really does forgive us and love us and take delight in us. And He wants us to believe that, and not spend years or decades worrying. So whenever we doubt, Jesus says to us, “Look at My death, where I nailed the record of your sins to the cross and destroyed it forever” (see Colossians 2:13-14). Look at My resurrection, when I left death behind Me so that I could give you everlasting life and love with Me forever. You are Mine. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16a).
WE PRAY: Dear Savior, help me when I doubt Your forgiveness! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
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