Genesis 50:15-21- Learning to move on

In this story we see the end of Jacobs life. Jacob was the father of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. When Jacob dies his kids get worried. They’re not worried about the funeral, or money, they’re worried about Joseph. They’re afraid of him!

King James Version (Chapter 50)

15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

They’re afraid that Joseph is going hate them and get back to be even with them.

Joseph is in a position to punish them (he works for the king)

Joseph “has every reason” to get even

Yet he says he says “I will Nourish you and your families to them”

What happened? Why is he not going to get even?

Better yet how can we get to that point? What are we to do when someone does us wrong or hurts us? What should our response be when someone hurts us?

Look what God says about it.

Jas 5:9

Eph 4:31

I believe that if anyone was ever hurt by anyone it would be Joseph. I believe we can learn so much about getting pas hurt from Joseph and his life!

Joseph is born to Jacob and his wife Rachel in Paddan Aram (Gen 30:22-24)

Joseph's brothers are jealous of his special treatment, which includes a coat of many colors and the fact that he is favored by his father (Gen 37:3-4)

Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery in Egypt after a false accusation of attempted rape (Gen 37:12-36)

Joseph is bought by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and becomes his personal servant (Gen 39:1)

Joseph prospers in Potiphar's service and earns his trust, but Potiphar's wife falsely accuses Joseph of attempted rape, leading to him being imprisoned (Gen 39:7-20)

In prison, Joseph interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh's officials, the cupbearer and the baker, correctly, foretelling the cupbearer's release and the baker's execution (Gen 40:1-23)

Pharaoh has a dream that troubles him, and the cupbearer remembers Joseph's ability to interpret dreams. Joseph is brought to Pharaoh, who tells him his dream and Joseph correctly interprets it as foretelling seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (Gen 41:1-36)

Joseph offers a plan to Pharaoh to store up grain during the seven years of plenty in order to provide for the people during the famine, and Pharaoh makes Joseph ruler over Egypt to carry out the plan (Gen 41:37-57)

The famine hits Egypt and the surrounding regions, and Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food. Joseph tests them and eventually reveals himself to them and forgives them for selling him into slavery (Gen 42-45)

Joseph's family, including his father Jacob, move to Egypt and settle in the land of Goshen (Gen 46:28-47:12)

Joseph serves as a advisor to Pharaoh and is instrumental in preserving his family and the Israelites during the famine (Gen 47:13-26)

Joseph makes sure that the Egyptians store up grain during the 7 years of plenty and during the famine, he sells grain to the Egyptians, as well as other neighboring countries and also distributes food to his family and his people.

Joseph's father Jacob dies and he makes the Israelites swear to take his bones with them when they leave Egypt (Gen 50:12-14)

Joseph dies at the age of 110 and is embalmed, in accordance with Egyptian customs (Gen 50:2-3)

Josephs life seemed terrible for so many years and it was because of his brothers wickedness. How did Joseph beat this bitterness?

Let’s find out

Joseph knew his place

Joseph even asked this in Genesis 50:19

He had the humility and submission to understand that God is the judge he will make things right!

Romans 12:19

Revenge and judgement belong to God

Joseph knew God’s position Genesis 50:20

He knew that God was ultimately in control!

He knew that God was bigger than his brothers evils

God is stronger than evil!

1 john 3 :8

He knew that his brothers evils wouldn’t stop God’s plan for him

He knew that bad things don’t stop God’s plan in peoples lives!

Phil 1:6

He knew that God made good come from bad

God took this awful situation and used it to save many!

He can often take the bad stuff in our lives and us it for his glory!

Romans 8:28

Joseph trusted God’s power

One thing that got Joseph to the point he could forgive his brothers was that Joseph trusted God’s power to work!

Genesis 41:50-52 “50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

God worked in Josephs life. Causing him to be able to move on from the hurt into being fruitful!

God will work in our life to allow us to forgive others too! We are actually called to do so!

Col 3:13

God helped Joseph in the midst of his trial but also helped Joseph after. Christian we are called not be full of resentment but rather forgiveness!