Genesis 45:1-8 (NKJV): Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 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. 5 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. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 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 all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Joseph could have been bitter about being sold into slavery. He could have been bitter about being falsely accused about trying to seduce Potiphar’s wife. He could have been bitter about being put into jail. He could have been bitter about being forgotten about when he told the cupbearer that he was going to be restored. Instead, it appears he waited to see what God was doing through all of it.
It appears he was his father’s favorite, but his brothers grew jealous of him. They initially sought to kill him but instead sold him into slavery. When he was in Potiphar’s home, he was given charge over everything, then it was taken away. When he was in prison, he was given charge over the prisoners. When he appeared before Potiphar to interpret his dreams, he was given power over Egypt and that only Potiphar was over him. He saw that God was doing something through him being promoted then demoted. He waited on God.
He had opportunity to seek revenge on his brothers. It would seem he had the right to do so because he had been separated from his family for years. He probably had desires to see his father and younger brother again. He probably had homesickness. When his brothers appeared, he probably had felt twinges of anger swell up when he saw how they joked around with each other and looked out for each other. He never got the opportunity to experience that growing up. But he knew God had bigger plans for it all.
What was the plan? God developed Joseph through all of the trials to help save a nation. He developed Joseph to plan for other nations to survive through a famine. He sent Joseph ahead to prepare a place for his family to live in comfort in later years.
So, this should be an encouragement to us. We will go through hard times. We will even experience separation or false accusations. It is what we do with our response to them. Are we going to seek what The Lord is doing through all of this? Or will we seek Him?
James 1:12-18 (NKJV): Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
It starts with Our Relationship with Jesus. If you don’t have a Relationship with Him or you need to rekindle that Relationship, do it now. Call out to Him and seek his Love and Forgiveness. It really is as hard or easy as you make it.
We should look to Him daily to seek a relationship with Him. I want to encourage you to seek Him today, if you haven’t already. If you need help, have questions or need direction in this regard, please, feel free to let me know.
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Any scripture referenced here is taken from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted
