The ‘gold standard’ for teshuvah (repentance) requires both regret for the past and acceptance to change in the future. The latter can only be truly tested if someone encounters a similar situation, and is able to resist the inclination to stray.
For this reason, Yosef contrived an elaborate ruse to confront his brothers with the opportunity to give up their brother Benyamin in exchange for being able to return safely to Canaan. It was only after they refused and therefore demonstrated true change, that he was able to forgive them.
|