Joseph and His brothers- Hate vs Grace

 14So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.  When Joseph arrived at Shechem...18But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.19“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” 21When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. (Genesis 37) 

Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.18His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50)

Thoughts: There was a lot of spiritual growth between Genesis 37 and Genesis 50.  Joseph's brothers were jealous because he had dreams (later to come true) of their bowing down to him.  They sought to kill him but the elder sons persuaded them not to and he was sold into slavery into Egypt.  This was horrible.  Yet God clearly uses the horrible sins of the brothers to in fact rescue the whole family.  Joseph says as much in Genesis 50- they meant it for harm, but God intended it for good.  Joseph at first tests them, but then forgives them and provides for the whole family during a horrible famine.  Joseph shows the grace of hospitality to his brothers. He showed grace to those who showed hate.  Perhaps he was able to do so because he saw how God lifted him up from the cistern, then slavery, then prison, to the highest office in the world.  Joseph sought to welcome and provide for his brothers.  Another name for that is hospitality.  

Prayer: Lord, when even family members are mean to me, help me to remember you are in control- not them.  I put myself in your hands.