"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45: 5)
Joseph comforted his brethren - who had betrayed him and cruelly lied about his death to their father Jacob -- when he discovered himself as second in command in Egypt. Yet the Scripture is clear what originally motivated the brothers to do what they did:
"8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words." (Genesis 37: 8)
This next passage has puzzled some commentators:
"15And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 16And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. 17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan." (Genesis 37: 15-17)
This "certain man" is Jesus Christ, pre-incarnate. He is directing Joseph to his brothers, who would then do the following:
"And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams." (Genesis 37: 18-20)
The brothers just hated Joseph, and for spite and envy they betrayed him and sold him off. Yet God took this great evil and did a greater good.
Jesus Christ does this for us every day through His Holy Spirit working in and around and for us.
Take the example of Joseph and his trials, and rest assured that no matter what happens, God's grace through your heavenly Joseph will step in, directing you in the way that He wishes you to go.
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