Scripture:
Genesis 50:19-21 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Observation:
Jacob had just died. His other sons (that is, those of Leah), terrified that Joseph would now exact revenge for their earlier treachery, made up a command that Jacob had supposedly given concerning their good treatment going forward. Joseph needed no such coercion. With humility learned by approximately 20 years in slavery and imprisonment, he assured them that no harm would befall them. He gave all power for judgment to God, refusing to act in vengeance because he had long learned God’s ability to judge better than any human. By no means did this fail to acknowledge the malice in which they acted, but Joseph now had a perspective of those earlier days – seeing his own teenage arrogance and pampered place in the family – and had forgiven their actions a long time ago. Moreover, he saw God’s good intention even in the midst of their murderous deeds – it was God’s good purpose to have Joseph interpret the dream of Pharaoh and institute the famine-fighting policies which fed the entire nation of Egypt during the brutal years of no rain. That provision had driven every action in the past and had culminated in the present abundance which had brought his family to Egypt, accomplishing their reunion and reconciliation. So, given this view, they had nothing to fear from him; he would provide for their needs going forward since he honored them as flesh and blood despite their earlier breaking of that basic bond (it had been reestablished). Joseph’s kindness reflected the kindness of God and it would mark the family legacy forever.
Application:
The righteousness and mercy of Joseph surpassed that of his grandfather Isaac and his father Jacob. It had been honed through the hardest of trials – betrayal and abandonment of those closest to him and outright injustice in a land hostile to his faith. So what trial am I avoiding? I need to see the end from the beginning – Joseph’s life speaks directly into mine that way. And what to what offense am I holding others accountable? What horrible thing has been done to me? Can I not see God’s good intent? I never will if I don’t persist in faith. But if I do – and this takes a certainty of trust – I will surely see the good thing God had in mind. His provision of all my needs and the needs of my family is also assured. It is against the harsh elements and the harsh treatment of people that God’s mercy fights and delivers. Do I have Joseph’s perspective? For sure it does not appear with the snap of the fingers but only after years of difficulty. But as the story says “the LORD was with Joseph” – I can know and NEED to know God was with me and is with me now. If I give up on that knowledge then I cannot hope to gain the long term view of things that was so redemptive in the lives of the children of Jacob. And when it’s up to me to seek revenge may I forgive and seek none of it for God knew all along the good things that would result even though people sought to invalidate, disqualify, discourage and shame me.
Prayer:
O Lord, I pray for the heart of Joseph. I need to go through the trial to the end; I know that that though I cringe and go to dark places. Let me know Your light there and see the light that shines on the culmination – the place of sheer delight where brothers dwell together in unity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
