The First Steps from Slavery to Freedom

FOCUS READING

Genesis 45:1-4 (NRSV)

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. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 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.
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.

DAILY BYTE

We have spoken about the enslavement of Joseph this week, but now we find Joseph encountering his brothers who had sold him into slavery. Joseph, understandably, is cautious and slightly harsh at first. But the more he hears his family’s story, the scriptures say, “Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him...” He couldn’t take it any more – he couldn’t stand for one more second to be superior to or divided from his brothers - no matter what had happened between them in the past.

And so, he sent everyone else who wasn’t a part of his family away. In this part of the story, Joseph is no longer a powerful ruler of Egypt like his courtiers know him to be – he’s just a brother like his other brothers. They are just a family. And we learn from Joseph here that the first step to freedom from slavery is to let go of power.

When he does this, he cries so loudly that everyone in the whole house can hear it – everyone – in and out of the family – feels in this moment the pain he has felt, being divided from them. And Joseph finally tells his brothers through a wall of tears – “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” And so we find that the second step to freedom from slavery is to be truthful about who we are.

But he’s also telling them – I’m not just any Joseph from off the street – I’m your Joseph – I’ve got the same blood – we have the same father. And so we see that the third step to freedom from slavery is to find common ground – to see that the same blood flows through all of our veins, whether we are physically related by blood, or not.

But when Joseph’s brothers hear this truth, it says they’re dismayed – they’re terrified. Think about it – they thought he was dead. They had done a terrible thing to him. They sold him into slavery. Hopefully, they felt at least a little guilty about it. And here he is alive – what would he do to them? What would you do, if you had the chance, to the person or people who have caused you the greatest pain in your life – enslaving you physically, mentally, or spiritually? Perhaps you’d want revenge? An eye for an eye, anyone? So, it’s no surprise that they are terrified at seeing this possibly vengeful ghost.

But then, strangely, Joseph says to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” Why? So he can hit them? If I were them, I would have taken a few very cautious steps. But when they come closer, instead of pulling out a fist or cutting them down with words, Joseph simply tells them again who he is – he says – “I am your brother, Joseph” – and he clarifies – the one “whom you sold into Egypt.” Oh right – that brother. And so we see, that the fourth step to freedom from slavery is to acknowledge our sin. They all knew what had happened between them, but it needed to be spoken out loud.

As you think back on the things that are enslaving you and the ways you enslave others, what steps do you need to take to work toward freedom? Do you need to let go of any power? Do you need to be truthful about who you are? Do you need to find some common ground? Do you need to acknowledge a sin that you or others have committed? If you answered yes to any of these questions, what is keeping you from taking that step? These are not easy steps, but pray about this, asking God to help you find courage.