Genesis 50:15-21 AMPC
When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Perhaps now Joseph will hate us and will pay us back for all the evil we did to him. [16] And they sent a messenger to Joseph, saying, Your father commanded before he died, saying, [17] So shall you say to Joseph: Forgive (take up and away all resentment and all claim to requital concerning), I pray you now, the trespass of your brothers and their sin, for they did evil to you. Now, we pray you, forgive the trespass of the servants of your father's God. And Joseph wept when they spoke thus to him. [18] Then his brothers went and fell down before him, saying, See, we are your servants (your slaves)! [19] And Joseph said to them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.] [20] As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day. [21] Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will provide for and support you and your little ones. And he comforted them [imparting cheer, hope, strength] and spoke to their hearts [kindly].
What an experience Joseph went through in his life!
Given dreams of being bowed down to, adored and favoured by his father, but envied and hated by his brothers.
Thrown down a pit, sold into slavery, not by enemies, but by his own family!
Falsely accused of rape and imprisoned in a foreign jail - wow! That is an occasion for abandoning your dreams and your faith, isn't it?
Yet all through these various calamities the Bible continually states that God blessed his captors because of Joseph. God's hand of blessing never left him.
He faithfully continued to serve, was given responsibility by his captors.
He still exercised his gift of interpreting dreams.
In the face of his descent into hard captivity, would any of us continue to believe?
He did!
What's the point here?
If the Lord has given you big dreams or visions, yet circumstances seem to fly in the face of them - don't give up. Continue to faithfully serve. Let God bless you and those around you, even if you are restricted.
That very captivity was the only place that God could translate Joseph from prison to palace.
Has some calamity come on you, perhaps a betrayal by someone close?
It may be very bad, BUT GOD means it for good.
It's very liberating to bless those who curse you.
Joseph was set free by forgiveness and love.
He overcame hatred and envy by seeing God's Hand in every bad thing that had happened to him.
He could see the bigger picture - many were saved from starvation because God allowed all that to happen to Joseph.
In that same way many can be saved as we continue in love and forgiveness during our bad times.
Remember all the while God has something higher and greater in mind....
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