Genesis 45

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45:4-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Joseph understood that it was God who sent him to Egypt.  God used the evil actions of Joseph’s brothers to save many lives and to prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel.  God is able to take the terrible things that happen to us in this fallen world, and bring good out of them.  Often it is difficult to see what good can possibly come out of a terrible situation, but God always has a plan, and it is revealed to us in His time.  We should trust God when He declares to us: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come. Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45:17-20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Joseph forgave and blessed his brothers despite what they had done to him.  No matter what someone does to us, we all need to remember to forgive quickly.  It is dangerous to remain angry and in unforgiveness.  The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:26-27: “In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”  If you forgive others and remain at peace with others, this will block Satan from getting a foothold in your mind.  Remember, when you refuse to forgive someone it ultimately harms you way more than the person you cannot bring yourself to forgive.