Parshat Vayehi - Forgiveness
by Rabbi Lobel

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

Joseph, upset at being suspected of vengeful behavior, responded, “Fear not, for am I in G-d's place?” (Genesis 50:19)

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

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