Joseph Forgives His Brothers

Jacob had twelve sons, and he loved Joseph best. He gave Joseph a coat of many colours. His brothers were jealous — and when Joseph told them his dream, that their bundles of grain bowed down to his, they hated him even more.

One day, far from home, the brothers grabbed Joseph, tore off his coat, and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to traders going to Egypt. They let their father believe a wild animal had killed him, and Jacob wept and wept.

Years later, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had strange dreams no one could explain. Joseph said, "God will give Pharaoh the answer." God showed Joseph the meaning: seven years of plenty, then seven years with no food. So Pharaoh set Joseph over all Egypt, and Joseph stored up grain for the hungry years.

When the hungry years came, Joseph's brothers travelled to Egypt to buy food. They bowed low before him and did not know him — but Joseph knew them. Then his brother Judah begged to take the youngest brother's place as a servant, so their father's heart would not break.

Joseph could not hold back his tears any longer. "I am Joseph, your brother," he cried, "the one you sold into Egypt! Do not be angry with yourselves. God sent me here ahead of you, to save many lives." He kissed his brothers and wept, and they talked together.

Joseph sent wagons full of good things to bring the whole family to Egypt. When Jacob heard the news, his heart came alive again. "Joseph my son is still alive!" he said. "I will go and see him before I die."