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148
The Beginning of the End
were beaten back, they recovered their ground and were blessed by
God. So we too may be overcomers in the strength of Jesus. On
the other hand, the record of their lives may serve as a warning to
us. God sees sin in His most favored ones, and He deals with it
in them even more strictly than in those who have less light and
responsibility.
After the death and burial of Jacob, fear again filled the hearts
of Joseph’s brothers. They were conscious of their guilt, and this
made them distrustful and suspicious that Joseph would now inflict
on them the long-deferred punishment for their crime. They dared
not appear before him but sent a message, “Before your father died
he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph:“I beg you,
please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they
did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of
the God of your father.”
This message touched Joseph, bringing him to tears. Encouraged
by this, his brothers came and fell down before him with the words,
“Behold, we are your servants.” Joseph was pained that they could
think he would cherish a spirit of revenge. “Do not be afraid,” he
said; “for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil
against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as
it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be
afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.”
Seeing Christ in Joseph
The life of Joseph illustrates the life of Christ. It was envy that
moved the brothers of Joseph to sell him as a slave; they hoped to
prevent him from becoming greater than they themselves. They felt
certain that they would no longer be troubled with his dreams, and
that they had removed all possibility of their fulfillment. But God
overruled their course to bring about the very event they intended to
hinder. Similarly, the priests and elders were jealous of Christ. They
put Him to death to prevent Him from becoming king, but in doing
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so they brought about this very result.
Through his bondage in Egypt, Joseph became a savior to his
father’s family, yet this fact did not lessen the guilt of his brothers.
So the crucifixion of Christ by His enemies made Him the Redeemer