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Following Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers, fearing retribution for selling him into slavery, sent a delegation asking for forgiveness.

Joseph, upset at being suspected of vengeful behavior, responded: (Genesis 50:19) "Fear not, for am I in God's place?"

As the Ralbag (1288-1344) explains, Joseph proved to his brothers that a person cannot be harmed without God's permission. Therefore, Joseph's brothers had nothing to fear from him. Man cannot be harmed by anything, even by another individual, without God's decree. Joseph explained to his brothers that, though they intended to harm him, Joseph became second to Pharaoh and one of the most powerful people in the entire world.

The Duties of the Heart (Chovos Halevavos; Hebrew Translation by Judah son of Tibbon 1120-1190) in the Gate of Trust, Chapter 3, describes five essential prerequisites for reaching complete trust in God. Part of the first prerequisite, the Duties of the Heart explains, a person has to realize that it is not in the hands of others to either help or hurt a person without permission from God. If a person believes there are other forces or intermediaries able to benefit an individual, it would be impossible to establish a proper relationship with God; nobody could fully develop his relationship with God while reasoning there are other means that could benefit him as well.

The Ralbag (Fourteenth Toelet) depicts Joseph's greatness. When Joseph's brothers asked for forgiveness, Joseph forgave them immediately; he understood that it would be senseless to bare a grudge against his brothers. Holding a grudge would be tantamount to claiming his brothers had the power to injure him. But Joseph understood that "all is in the hands of heaven."

This does not mean an individual should be so easily forgiving. Nor is it within us to forgive all mistakes. However, if someone genuinely asks for forgiveness and wholeheartedly regrets his actions, he should be deserving of fair consideration for forgiveness. An unforgiving person proclaims his lack of trust in God's providence.

Being unforgiving says it was man who harmed you and God does not control the world. Joseph's trust in God dictated that he must forgive his brothers.

Rabbi Chaim Lobel is spiritual leader of Young Israel of Aberdeen.
www.yiaberdeen.com