What about when the wrongdoer wins?

I love to sit inside Scripture. When my mind has time to wander, it sometimes runs amok of course, but often it meanders to how I would feel inside a story, how my responses would align with or differ from the character.

One story I return to a lot in my mind is Joseph and his brothers, in Gen 37-50. When you think about it, that’s an incredible chunk of chapters to highlight one person. Of course it’s a critical portion of the nation of Israel’s history but much of the narrative centers on Joseph. He’s a key figure!

You’re probably familiar: Joseph is the favorite and he’s a little foolish. He has these dreams and tells his brothers, which just stirs up the anger and resentment they already feel. They want to kill him but settle for selling him off to passing Ishmaelmite. Hey, at least let’s make some money off him!

Betrayed by your own brothers! Of course things go from bad to worse. He’s eventually falsely accused of attempted rape, then completely forgotten about in prison. Probably 12-13 years go by where he’s forgotten.

He cannot get those years back.

Now of course the end of the story is beautiful. God places Joseph in power over all of Egypt, brings back his brothers who are starving, and Joseph gets to use his power and authority to gracious provide for the people who hurt him. A stunning picture of forgiveness and grace. Yes!

I love it. I really do. But I cannot tell you how many times over the years I have had this nagging feeling.

What if his brothers had somehow risen to power while Joseph remained in jail? Would he have forgiven them then?

Just to be dead bang honest: At least in my own experience, when I come out of a situation “on top” so to speak, it’s easy to forgive.

If I was in a place of power and somehow the people who wronged me came groveling back, bowing, starving, of course I would forgive them. Of course I would use my power to help them. No brainer.

But what if Joseph was still in prison? What if the brothers were somehow allowed to rise in power instead and they remained completely oblivious to their long-lost brother’s plight? What if they strode by him, without ever recognizing him?

Or worse, what if Joseph had to bow to them?

What if Pharaoh had awarded them the “best brothers in Egypt,” award while Joseph had to silently applaud?

Would he have forgiven them then?

Knowing Joseph’s character, my guess is that yes he would’ve, but can we be so honest as to admit that would’ve been a whole lot harder?!

So I guess what I’m wondering is, During those 12-13 years, at what point did Joseph do the inner work of forgiving them? And what would it have looked like if he never “came out on top” but his brothers did instead?

Like, what about when the wrongdoer wins? What does forgiveness look like then?

I don’t have a specific situation in mind, but more like shades of lots of scenarios that crop up here and then in life.

I don’t have the magic answer, but I will say that at one point I was wrestling with God about this, and I asked Him. While Joseph was in prison, before he came out on top and the whole thing became so clear: what was Joseph to do then?

And so clearly the word settled in my heart:

Wait.

Ah yes. Joseph was to wait. When he was bumping along in some donkey cart with the Ishmaelites, terrified, with no idea what the future held, he waited.

When Joseph was falsely accused by Pharaoh’s wife and wound up in prison, he waited.

When Joseph was forgotten by the cupbearer, thus left alone in prison longer and longer, he waited.

If a situation seems upside down and wrong and unresolved and seems like the wrongdoer wins?

Wait.

I’d like to add that this applies to me as well. Often, I am the wrongdoer. I know there are seasons where I’m not quite walking the way I should, but it kinda seems like everything’s still going ok, so that must mean I’m good.

That’s a dangerous spot. Just because it seems like I’m “on top” so to speak or things are going well, doesn’t mean there’s no divine discipline right around the corner. God loves me enough to bring things around that’ll bring me to Him.

Just like the Prodigal Dad, I think it’s safe to say that while he waited, Joseph must’ve done the inner work in his heart to let go of anger, bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.

And, I think it’s safe to say that if the brothers “came out on top” that would’ve been a tough pill to swallow for Joseph. It would’ve been incredibly hard for him to bow to them.

But the other truth that keeps haunting my heart is this sense, that the truth is, God would never let that happen. And if it seems like that’s happening, it’s because the story isn’t done yet.

When we ask, “What about when the wrongdoer wins?”

The truth?

He doesn’t.

He doesn’t win. God will right every wrong somehow.

This should be encouraging and terrifying.

I know I for one don’t want God’s just punishment doled out unmercifully on wrongdoers, because I am one.

I want there to be justice, but I want mercy to triumph.

No matter who bows to who on earth, I want all of us to bow to King Jesus in eternity.

Ultimately, the story of Joseph, even more than forgiveness, is about TRUST. Joseph was able to forgive because Joseph was able to TRUST. He trusted that God would figure out his life. That God saw the hidden prison cell. That God saw the inner struggles of his own heart.

Joseph was able to forgive, I believe, inwardly, even before that situation resolved, because he trusted God. It was trust in his heavenly Father that fueled his forgiveness.

Just like Jesus.

Jesus forgave while still on the cross.

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And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24)