Evil is not the End

Since evil entered humanity in the Garden, it has been at war with God. We remember from the first week of Great Lent that God promised evil would not prevail. He promised that it would eventually be destroyed. Our Great Lenten Journey is about the war. It is about victory over evil.

When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground.  And he inquired about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”  They said, “Your servant our father is well, he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and made obeisance.  And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!”  Then Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.  Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, “Let food be served.” Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him; and he cried, “Make every one go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.  And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.  And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.  So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, I pray you.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.  For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.  So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.  Make haste and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry; you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have; and there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come; lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty.’  And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.  You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Make haste and bring my father down here.”  Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.  And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.  When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.

Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16

The idea of brothers selling brothers into slavery, some would say, is the very definition of evil. Family bonds are supposed to protect against evil. Alas, even Christ reminds us, “Brother will deliver up brother to death.” (Matthew 10.21)

So, both the Old and the New Testament confirm this horrid reality. Just because it is real, doesn’t mean it will last forever. Today’s lesson from Genesis helps us to see that evil never has the last word. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but evil didn’t win.

Next week the Church will remind us that Joseph was a type of Jesus. Just as Joseph was given up to the enemy, so was Jesus. Just as Joseph was the savior of his family, so is Jesus. Evil is a temporary state we must endure on earth, but God will have the last word.

Here’s the lesson for today. For evil to win, Joseph would have to hate his brothers. Joseph would have needed to refuse to forgive his brothers. For evil to win in our lives we must refuse to forgive. We must learn to hate others instead of love.

God can bring good from anything. That doesn’t mean He wants evil. We are the cause of evil. We are the ones who choose the world over Christ. We are the ones who choose to profit from our brother’s suffering. If we want evil to end, we must team up with God instead of the devil.

Great Lent is almost over, and Holy Week is just days away. I invite you to search out evil in your actions and make the choice to be like Joseph. God will use your forgiveness and love to do good things from an evil past. Evil cannot and will not have the last word. It is up to us.