Genesis 45: 3-11
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But the brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all of Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
A Thought
The life of Joseph reminds me God has fulfilled a plan of deliverance for us made possible through his son Jesus Christ. Joseph had been sold into captivity in Egypt by his brothers. Joseph sees the work of God to provide deliverance for his family rather than to return evil to his brothers for the way they had treated him. This is a valuable lesson for us to learn: We must forgive and to do good for those who would spitefully use us. Remember, while we were sinners Christ died for us.
Our Prayer
Father help us to know that you are always at work for our good. We can trust you to bring about good in every situation if we do not give up. Help us to forgive, and to do good when people would try to bring harm to us. Thank you for being our deliverance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
