joseph: the reconciled brother

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”

So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: „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.

Father, forgive them,

they don‟t know what

they‟re doing.” And they

divided up his clothes

by casting lots.

Don‟t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you.

His brothers came down 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?

• Disguises himself and his intentions

Then Judah went up to

him and said ...

please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of Benjamin, and let him return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me?

” I am Joseph”Do not be afraidGod sent me ahead of you to preserve you.It was not you who sent me here, but God.

But Joseph said to

them, Don’t be afraid.

Am I in the place of

God?

Don‟t pay back evil with evil. Be careful to do what everyone thinks is right. If possible, live in peace with everyone. Do that as much as you can. My friends, don‟t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, “I am the One who judges people. I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

You intended to harm

me but God intended it

for good

to accomplish what is

now being done, the

saving of many lives.

to accomplish what is

now being done, the

saving of many lives.

So then, don’t be afraid, I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

“I, I am the one who

wipes away all your

sins. I do this to please

myself. I will not

remember your sins.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.