God sent me

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. - Genesis 45v8

The entire account of Joseph dealing with his brothers while he knew the truth and they did not is a fascinating one. There is a lot of jockeying and taking place and lessons being taught. They had to come to Egypt to seek food during a famine in Canaan. Pharaoh’s dreams had been about a coming famine and because Joseph had interpreted them he has put in charge of famine preparation and relief. When the brother’s came to him he recognised them and they obviously did not recognise him. Joseph was dressed and groomed like Egyptian royalty.

They bowed down before him, recognising his authority. Unknowingly they fulfilled the dreams that had made them so angry.

After a series of incidents Joseph could not stand it any longer. He still loved them and let them know who he was.

Can you imagine their response? They had seen his power already. Now they knew that their fate was in the hands of the brother they had firth thrown into a pit and then sold as a slave.

What was Joseph’s response? Anger? Revenge? Modern psychology would say that nearly anything he would have done could be justified or excused.

Nope – neither one. ‘Don’t worry lads. You thought you sent me here, but God did it for His purpose.’

We can’t look back at all the stuff we have been through. God allows things to come into our lives to achieve and accomplish his purposes.

There is no room for revenge or payback in our lives. There is nothing to be accomplished by holding a grudge. God can use anything in our lives to accomplish His purpose.

‘Forgetting those things that are behind’ let us move on in the knowledge that God knows best.