True Repentance
Genesis 43 gives a good sense of the change of heart. But notice that it takes a hungry stomach to
bring it about. We left Jacob in Genesis
42 unwilling to give up Benjamin because he still had grain to eat. We left Jacob unwilling to return his sons to
Egypt as Joseph had requested. Now in
Genesis 43 his stomach is empty and his hunger overtakes his mind. Finally – even through the worldly rationale
of his stomach – Jacob reverts back to making good decisions. And notice that here in this passage we hear
him once more referred to as Israel!
Outside of Jacob/Israel, we can actually see some more
serious repentance going on. First,
notice that it is Judah here who makes a promise to Israel that Benjamin will
be kept safe. Judah has come a long way since he sneaked around behind Joseph’s
back and plotted to sell Joseph into slavery.
See Genesis 37:26-27. Now Judah
is willing to step up like a man and take ownership.
We also see the men returning with the “previously returned
money” in addition to more money with which to buy more grain. The brothers are more interested in
maintaining a good relationship with the vizier of Egypt – that is, Joseph –
than they are about material gain. The
fact that they are more interested in the relationship and less about the
physical world is definitely a step in the right direction.
They also make a full confession to Joseph’s steward. That is a huge step in the right
direction! Full confession of one’s sins
is a key part in the repentance/forgiveness process. So I give the brothers fairly high marks in
this respect.
Return to Egypt
However, there is the matter of the gifts that they
bring. Gifts are a funny thing –
especially when connected with the repentance/forgiveness process. They can be taken two ways – one of which is
proper while the other is actually a sign that growth has not occurred.
First, the negative view.
Often when one gives a gift to someone to whom they need to repent the
gift is an attempt to buy the person’s favor.
The reason that this is wrong is two-fold. A gift of this manner is an attempt at
manipulation, of course. But perhaps
more harmfully a gift actually detracts from the power of true
forgiveness. If a person gives a gift in
order to earn the favor of another, the gift giver never is able to realize how
significant the forgiveness is because there will always be the thought that
the forgiveness actually came about as a response to the gift. Gifts that are given in this fashion are
actually harmful to the repentance/forgiveness cycle.
On the other hand, sometimes it is necessary to make
restitution for one’s sins. This is
really the only meaningful way that a gift can be a part of the
repentance/forgiveness cycle. Actually,
from this perspective it is restitution and not therefore is not truly a gift.
So as I look at the brothers, while I think they are showing
great signs of growth, I have to question the fact that they brought down all
the gifts with them. Are they items of
restitution because they think Joseph might be angry because somehow their
money was returned to them? If so, then
I have no problem with the gifts – because they are given as restitution and
not as objects for manipulation of forgiveness.
But I am suspicious of these gifts.
There is some doubt in my mind as to whether the balm, honey, nuts, etc
were restitution or objects of subtle manipulation in order to keep a good
relationship with Egypt. So while I give
the brothers high marks for improvement, like all of us they still have a few
things to learn.
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