Forgiveness with a test - Genesis 44-47

So, I know I am supposed to forgive people. But, what do I do then? Do I trust them again? Does true Biblical forgiveness equal full trust? In our story today of Joseph and his brothers we have some insight into that question. God gives us the story of Joseph to teach us much about Him and about us and life. Some see Joseph as a type of Christ in the Old Testament and a picture for us to learn from. Joseph is one of only a few people mentioned in the Bible who has no recorded act of sin. If Joseph is truly Christ like, what can we learn from his relationship with the brothers who hurt him? Prior to revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph gives them a test. He puts his "special" cup in the bag of his brother Benjamin. When confronting the brothers with this act of "theft" Joseph is testing them to see if they will sell out Benjamin just like they sold him into slavery. Joseph wants to know if they will betray Benjamin to save their own skin. He gives them a test. In today's modern version of Christianity forgiveness is passed around like candy. In fact, if we don't forgive and wrap it in absolute trust we are seen as non-forgiving. Joseph was willing to forgive his brothers - but not without verification. His motto might have been forgive but verify. Not a bad motto. The fact that their should be a time and demonstration to the repentance of others is a lesson Joseph teaches us. This is not always the case but it ought to be considered as a strategy to employ when trying to work with those who hurt us. Forgive - but verify for trust.