God works for the good of those who love Him
” And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourself for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you“. Genesis.45:5.
Joseph was brought up with lots of love and care. His father Jacob loved him more than all his other sons and even made a richly ornamental clothes for him.(Gen.37:3) Out of jealousy, his brothers plotted to kill him, (Gen.37:18) and later sold him as a slave.( Gen.37:28) He was only 17 years at that time.
Joseph reached Egypt as a slave boy. Joseph always loved and honoured his God in any and every situation. God raised him as the Governor of Egypt, next to Pharaoh.( Gen.42:6)
As there was great famine throughout the world, Joseph’s brothers also came all the way from Canaan to buy grains from Joseph.
“They bowed down to him with their faces to the ground” ( Gen.42:6). They did it again in vv. 26, 28.” They threw themselves to the ground before him”( Gen.44:14). We are seeing how Joseph’s dream as a teenager becoming true.
Joseph was 39 years old when he revealed himself to his brothers.( Gen.45:1-5) 22 years of separation from dear ones, loneliness and sufferings… His brothers sold him as a slave but later they saw Joseph as the mighty Governor of Egypt.
Joseph could have shown revenge, instead he was embracing and kissing each one of them. What a wonderful example of godly forgiveness and loving the enemies.
Joseph saw the hand of God in all what happened in his life. He was able to bring all his dear ones from Canaan to Egypt. Otherwise they would have perished due to the famine.
If his brothers didn’t sell him as a slave, there would not have been a chance for Joseph to reach Egypt and finally to become the Governer. He too would have continued as a shepherd in Canaan, just another shepherd. And suffered in this great famine.
A small comparison between Joseph and his brothers in few areas.
- Place of stay. Joseph was staying in the Palace of Pharaoh for the last 9 years as the Governor of Egypt. His brothers who tried to kill him were staying in the deserts and grasslands with the sheep.
- Area of influence. Joseph was known throughout Egypt and in the neighboring countries. His brothers were known by their sheep and fellow shepherds.
- Their physical condition. His brothers and their families were starving due to lack of food. Joseph the Governer of Egypt, was the CEO of the Food Corporation of Egypt with godowns all over the country.
When his brothers were traveling for days with their donkeys to buy a bag of grain , Joseph was in charge of lakhs of tons of grain. Gen.41:49 says huge quantities of grain..beyond measure.
Are we able to see the hand of God in all that has happened in our life ?
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his promise” Romans. 8:28.
What is our attitude to those who have ill-treatment us in the past ?
Lord, help us to see your hand in all that has happened in our life and help us to be a Joseph to all those who have ill-treated us.
Rev.C.V.Abraham.