Joseph’s brothers hated him. One day they threw him into an empty pit and decided to kill him, but they altered their murderous plan and sold him instead for twenty silver-pieces, splitting the proceeds among themselves. He was brought into Egypt. Famine had stricken Egypt and Canaan, and when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent his sons, Joseph’s brothers, there to buy food! Don’t we just marvel at how God works!

In the meantime, Joseph had been promoted to a position of power! His brothers did not even recognize him. Here was the perfect opportunity for him to “get even” with them. He could keep them as slaves in Egypt for the rest of their lives, or he could have them killed. Instead, Joseph responded by graciously making himself known to them, to their great astonishment: “He kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him” (45:14, 15). To quiet their fear, he told them, “‘Do not be afraid … you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good … Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them” (50:19–21).

This reminds us that when God permits others to hurt us, He turns it to work for our good, and He can then use us as instruments of blessing to others (2 Cor. 1:4). Joseph recognized that God was behind his circumstances, and it was therefore not his place to exact revenge. He also knew that there was nothing his brothers could say or do to make up for or repay the debt they owed to him. The only right response was to forgive them, and to leave the consequences to God. God was the only one competent enough and wise enough to deal with them.