Genesis 45:1-15 & 50:15-21: Joseph, A Life Planned by God

Genesis 45:1-15 & 50:15-21: Joseph, A Life Planned by God

When Joseph is reunited with the brothers that caused him harm, he is gracious enough to forgive them and give them enough food to get them through the famine.  He is able to forgive them because he is able to step back from the emotional reunion and see the bigger picture.  He realizes that his entire life has been very carefully planned by God so that he could save the lives of more people than he could fathom.

After Joseph's father Jacob dies, his brothers fear Joseph will no longer show them favor and pretend their father insisted Joseph continue to take care of them.  In Genesis 50:19-20, it is again clear that Joseph is well aware of God's miraculous hands on his life when he says, "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

It can often be hard to see how God's plans are at work.  Yet as long as we follow the ways of Jesus Christ and surrender our wills to Him by allowing Him to take control, He will always have our best interest in mind.  We live in a sinful fallen world where people often cause great harm to others, and though evil happening to us is not in God's will, He can use our hurtful circumstances for His glory.  

May I always be able to focus on the bigger picture, even when the outcome is unclear.  May I be obedient to God's calling and not dwell on my circumstances, never squandering the opportunity to bless others. 

(Genesis 45:1-15) Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me." And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

And Joseph said unto his brethren, "I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?"

And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 

And Joseph said unto his brethren, "Come near to me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, 'Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee...'"

Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. 

(Genesis 50:15-21) And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, "Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him."

And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, "Thy father did command before he died, saying, 'So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.'"

 And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we be thy servants."

And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones." And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.