For years, the brothers had sheltered behind their father. Perhaps Joseph’s kindness had only been for Jacob’s sake. Now he was gone: What if? These two words come from a conscience that hasn’t quite accepted the grace given.
“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?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘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. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50 v 15-21)
What if?
I am sure we have all said those two words that set off a panic moment, imagining the worst possible things that could happen.
In this scenario, what if Joseph had only been holding it together for father’s sake? What if the kindness was a performance, and now, he will deal with our sinfulness?
When Joseph heard another made-up story, he wept. After all that had happened, his brothers still didn’t know him and his love for them. They hadn’t understood the forgiveness he had already given them.
Joseph then gives the theological statement that has rang throughout the generations since: “You intended to harm me. God intended it for good.”
Joseph had come to understand something that we must also. Whatever has happened, God is bigger than whatever has sought to harm us.
He was ahead of his time.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8 v 28-30)
Everything of our life, what happens to us, what we have done, the hurts and difficulties are not outside of the gaze of God. Neither is it outside of His control. We may not realise this side of heaven, exactly how this works for the good. But the promise is that God is filtering everything and using it for His purposes.
More than this, He is also in control of our future. Predestined, called, justified and glorified. It shows us that God controls our eternity. He knows. Therefore, no one can say they have worked enough to get the qualification to get there. He has sorted it all.
So, whether in the present or in the future, God is in control of your life. Nothing happens outside of His control. He holds you.
That is the comfort we need today.
We can live as though God’s goodness is conditional, as though one more crisis might finally exhaust His patience or expose the limits of His care.
But Joseph’s words point us beyond himself to the God he trusted. You intended harm. God intended good. It is the ground on which we stand today.
Missions Paul 