Now when the tables are turned and Joseph is in power he has the chance to avenge himself. But he instead does somthing amazing. He has already forgiven them, loves them and gives a brief but beautiful summary of how we can understand God and his plans in the midst of suffering.
The brothers are afraid and don't understand Joseph's heart but try to trick him and lie about something their father said before dying: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 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.
(Genesis 50:17-20 NIV)
I think it is important to distinguish, God does not say their sin and hatred and jealousy of their brother was ok or part of his plan. He never made them turn on their brother or nearly kill him and sell him into slavery. God allows us to sin even at the cost of others lives. Yet God in the big picture works our evil and brings about his good plans.
And there is also judgement for that sin. We desperately need forgiveness. That is why we need Jesus. Not to save us from suffering in this life directly but to save us from sin. And in so doing we are saved from suffering for we can live again in a life in heaven without suffering.
God help us to understand even in the confusion that you are good and we are the ones causing evil.
Yet you also work our evil out for your good in the big picture.
Save us from ourselves. Give us hearts and eyes to see the truth like Joseph. To forgive and to love
Amen
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