Genesis 45: 4-5

S “And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me, “So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Vs.8 “So now it was not you who sent me here but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of his entire house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”

O Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery when he was young. He lived as a slave for a while and then went to jail after being falsely accused of a crime which he didn’t commit. He ends up becoming Pharaoh’s right-hand man after interpreting his dreams and saving the country from total devastation by prophesying and helping prepare for a famine. In theses verses Joseph is revealing his identity to his brothers who’ve come to ask for food from this man whom they didn’t know was their brother who they sold to slavery simply because they were jealous of him. Joseph shows tremendous grace and forgiveness towards his brothers and it seems to flow out of an understanding and confidence in God’s plan.

A Joseph says, “It was not you who sent me here but God.” He no longer bears a grudge towards his brothers for their malicious act because he sees how it was part of God’s plan (or how God used it to do something great). Joseph even considers this wrongful act to be God’s way of saving his family during the famine. I long to have this strong confidence in God’s plan and purpose for my life. I desire to trust God so much that I can have that same perspective which recognizes how God can use negative events in my life to bring about something great. I want to have such a gracious heart that forgiveness flows from my heart as readily as it did from Joseph’s. I think back to times in which I wish I would have responded to some of my close family and friends as graciously as Joseph responded to his.

P Lord, help me to grow in my trust and faith in your plan for mine and my family’s life. I trust you with my family and believe you have good things for us. Help me to trust this even when the bad things come up. Mold me into a person who is so gracious towards others, especially towards those closest to me.

1. This entry was posted on Sunday, January 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm and is filed under Cynthia Saari, Journal Entry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.