If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11
Three factors need to converge for reconciliation to happen—genuine repentance, an intercessor to plead on our behalf, and a readiness to forgive.
Genuine repentance
You don’t get to reconciliation by pretending evil never happened. God brought the brothers to face the truth about who they were and what they had done. When that happened, the door was open to reconciliation. The first step is to ask, “Is there something I can take ownership of?”
An intercessor to plead on our behalf
Judah offered himself as the substitute, and pleaded before Joseph as an intercessor (Gen. 44:18-34). Reconciliation with God happens not only when we take ownership of our sins and come to Him in repentance, but also because there is a great intercessor who gave Himself as our substitute. It is because of Jesus that we can be forgiven and reconciled to God.
A readiness to forgive
When Joseph saw his brother, Benjamin, and heard Judah’s pleading he was moved to tears: “Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him” (Gen. 45:1). The forgiveness and love that had long been in Joseph’s heart overflowed to his brothers.
The story of Joseph and his brothers is a picture of the love of God that overflows in joyful forgiveness and reconciliation to us. When does it happen? When we come to God in repentance. Why does it happen? Because of Jesus, the great intercessor who touches the heart of God.
Are you ready to seek genuine reconciliation with God? Is there something you need to take ownership of?
