Genesis 50:19-21 (ESV Strong's)
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Subject: Forgiveness
Joseph is now the second most powerful person in the land AND the most powerful person in their family. AFTER the death of Israel, the other brothers feared for their life. They were afraid that Joseph would seek retribution on them for their mistreatment of him; now that Israel, their father, we dead. We have to love the first statement Joseph makes about this, however: DO NOT FEAR, FOR AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD? That is what it means to NOT forgive someone. When we decide not to forgive someone we put ourselves in the PLACE OF GOD. That is not our role. It is God who forgives. He forgave us. We are not in the place to cast judgment as that would put us in the place of God. We forgive because we were forgiven. Joseph knew this truth and did not attempt to judge his brothers. but, Joseph even went farther than NOT judge them. The last line states that he "provided for them." He "comforted them: and "spoke kindly" to them. This is not the characteristics of a man holding a grudge or withholding forgiveness. In Romans 12 we are told to not only forgive those who wrong us but to also do good to them. Give them water to drink when they are thirsty. God did this for us. Joseph did this for his brothers. We are supposed to do it to those who wrong us.
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