Today’s selected reading continues in the Old Testament book of Genesis which was written and recorded by Moses the servant of the Lord. More specifically, today’s passage is found the final three chapters of this Old Testament book—chapters forty-eight through fifty. When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the Old Testament book of Genesis drawing to a close. Thus far within the book we have watched and witnessed as the Lord of eternity created the heavens and earth and everything within them over a period of six days. We beheld as the hands of the living God formed man from the dust of the earth and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, thus making him a living soul. We witnessed as the Lord planted a garden east in Eden and how he took and placed man in the garden to tend for and keep it. It would be there while in the garden of Eden that Adam and Eve would sin and transgress the command of the Lord by partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Ultimately the Lord banished Adam and Eve from the garden, blocked the way back to the midst of it, and even cut off their access to the tree of life. Upon traveling eastward from the garden Adam and Eve had two sons—Cain and Abel—of which Cain rose up against his brother and slew him because his worship and his offering was received by the Lord and his wasn’t. We watched as another son was born unto Adam and Eve in the place of Abel, and how thus began the generations of those upon the earth who called upon the name of the Lord. Eventually we would read about Enoch who walked with God and was no more because he was taken by the Lord. Ultimately we would find ourselves encountering the days of Noah when the living God destroyed every living thing which moved upon the face of the earth—save Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives, and two of every living thing which moved upon the earth in order that life might be preserved to start afresh after the flood. The days of Noah would be followed by the generations of his descendants and ultimately they would journey eastward and would come to the plain of Shinar where they would attempt to build a city and tower which reached heaven. The Lord, however, came down to look upon the city and tower which they build and there at Babel would confuse their languages and proceed to scatter them over and upon the face of the earth. It would be when we come to the end of the eleventh chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis that we reach of the beginning of the generations of Abram while he still lived in the land of the Chaldeans in Ur. The eleventh chapter of the book of Genesis concludes with Abram, his father, his nephew, and his wife Sarai journeying from Ur of the Chaldeans unto the land of Canaan and dwelling in the land of Haran. It would be there in the land of Haran where Abram’s father would die and it would be Abram, his wife Sarai and their nephew Lot remaining in the land of Haran.

As you come to the twelfth chapter of the book of Genesis you will find the book shifting and transitioning to the beginning of the creation of a people within the earth which would ultimately and eventually become a nation and kingdom from which the blessing of God would flow. The narrative and account of Israel would begin with Abraham when he was called forth from Ur of the Chaldeans unto the land which the living God would show him. It would be the life of Abraham that would carry with it twenty-five years of waiting for the promise of the living God to be fulfilled in the earth, and when it finally arrived they would welcome Isaac into the earth. The Lord, however, would test Abraham concerning his son Isaac whom he loved, and would ask him to sacrifice him in the place He would be shown. Ultimately the Lord would speak forth from heaven and instruct Abraham not to lay a hand upon the boy, for now He knew that he feared him above everything else. Isaac would be one of two sons born unto Abraham, for there was another son—Ishmael—who would be born unto him through Hagar the Egyptian handmaid whom they had undoubtedly acquired when they went down into the land of Egypt. Both Ishmael and Isaac would become great peoples and nations within the earth, however, only Isaac would be the child of the promise, and that one through whom the blessing of the living God would flow unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Within the narrative of Abraham we not only find conflict and battle as Abraham would engage kings and rulers in battle to recover his nephew Lot who had been captured and taken hostage, but we also find tones and shadows of the end times and the Last Days as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed with fire and brimstone from heaven. Within the book of Genesis—this book which describes and details beginnings—we also find two distinct cataclysmic events which would bring destruction upon the earth, as the Lord would destroy the earth and every living thing that moved upon it with the great waters of the flood, and would later destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness and the cry of it which came up to heaven. In this book of beginnings we find the generations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and even the twelve sons of Jacob, however, there would also be tones and shadows in the book of Genesis concerning the days which would come at the end of time and during the Last Days. It’s worth noting that even when Jacob who was also called Israel blessed his sons before his death he declared unto them that which would come upon them in the last days, thus further continuing the narrative of the end times within the book of Genesis.

The book of Genesis would eventually find the narrative shifting from the life of Abraham to the life of his son Isaac as he married Rebekah and had two children born unto him—Esau who was the eldest son, and Jacob who was the youngest son. The narrative of Jacob and Esau would center around Esau selling his birthright unto Jacob for a bowl of stew, and Jacob entering into the presence of their father disguised as Esau in order that he might steal the blessing away from his brother. Isaac would indeed bless Jacob instead and in place of Esau, and it would be this deceit and this reality that would cause Esau to hate Jacob and ultimately seek to take his life. Rebekah would become aware of the hatred within his heart and his desire to kill her youngest son, and made Jacob aware of his desire and scheme while also instructing him to journey unto her brother in Padan-Haran where he would escape his brother’s fury, as well as find a wife. The narrative of Jacob would find him in Beth-el where the Lord would appear unto him by a dream during the night and speak to him concerning the promise which was upon his life, and how the Lord would bless and bring him back unto the place he had left, and unto the house of his father. Jacob would eventually come unto Padan-Haran and unto the house of his brethren and would serve his mother’s brother Laban for twenty years. It would be during these twenty years Jacob served his mother’s brother that he would be given both his daughters in marriage, as both Rachel and Leah would be given unto him with Laban’s maids being given unto them as hand maids. During these twenty years sons and a single daughter would be born unto Jacob, as Leah would bear him six sons, each of maids would bear him two sons, and Rachel would bear him Joseph. Dinah would be the sole daughter that would be born unto Jacob, and we read of her experience and encounter among the daughters of the land as she was violated, sexually assaulted and raped by Shechem. What we also read and find is that another son was born unto Jacob through Rachel—Benjamin—however it would be through and as a result of child birth that Rachel would die and be buried in the land of Canaan. The narrative and account of Jacob who was also called Israel would eventually and ultimately shift to that of the eldest son born unto him through Rachel—Joseph—whose narrative and account would begin to be found in the thirty-seventh chapter of the book of Genesis. The narrative of Joseph would begin with the father’s love, a token and expression of the love of the father, two distinct dreams which were given unto him, and the hatred and envy of his brothers. The narrative of Joseph is quite interesting when you think about and consider it, for while on the one hand it began with the love of the father, it would also have as its counterpart the hatred of his brother. How incredibly interesting it is to think about the tremendous fact that it was indeed possible for both the love of the father and the hatred of brothers to operate at the same time within the life of Jospeh.

The narrative of Joseph would ultimately find the hatred of his brothers being so strong and so severe that when he came unto them in the field they plotted and schemed against him to slay and put him to death. Reuben the eldest son of Jacob would persuade them to cast him into a pit and empty cistern instead, so as to return later and save his brother’s life from the midst of the pit and return him unto their father. Joseph would indeed be cast into the pit by his brothers, however, while Reuben was away and apart from the brothers they noticed an Ishmaelite caravan that was coming near unto them and decided to remove Joseph from the pit and sell him as a slave unto them while removing his coat of many colors. When Reuben returned unto his brothers he returned to the knowledge that Joseph was no more, for they had sold him into slavery in the hands of Ishmaelites who would eventually sell him in the land of Egypt unto Potiphar. It would be there in the house of Potiphar the master of Joseph where we begin reading of the presence of the Lord being with him, and the favor of the Lord causing everything his hands set out to do to prosper. Joseph’s master would see how the Lord was with him and how the Lord had caused everything he did to prosper, and eventually made him lord and ruler over his entire house and over all his affairs. It would be in this place where the Lord would begin to bless the house of Potiphar on account of Joseph, and Potiphar would recognize the presence, the favor and blessing of the Lord upon Joseph. There would come a day when Joseph’s master’s wife would begin to notice him and would try several times to make sexual advances toward him in order that he might lie with her. Each and every time she made an advance toward him Joseph refused, for he would neither sin against his master, nor would he sin against the living God by defiling himself or the wife of his master. One day while they were all alone in the house she made an advance against him and even caught him by his robe, however, Joseph fled from her presence and left his robe behind. Scorned and seething with rejection the wife of his master falsely accused Joseph of making sexual advances toward her—accusations which would eventually have Joseph cast into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held. It would be here in the prison where the king’s prisoners were held that the Lord would continue and would still be with Joseph, and would grant him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Because of the favor and presence of the Lord upon Joseph the keeper of the prison would set Joseph over the whole prison and over all the prisoners, and it would be there in the prison where Joseph would serve the other prisoners who found themselves cast into that place. There would come a day when the king’s chief butler and chief baker would be cast into the prison with Joseph, and would each have dreams which puzzled and perplexed them. When Joseph was made aware of their dreams he interpreted their dreams, and that each man experienced exactly that which Joseph had predicted—including the chief butler who would be released from prison and restored unto his place of service in the palace of the king, yet would not remember and would forget Joseph.

After two full years had passed with Joseph being found in that prison Pharaoh king of Egypt would also have a series of dreams that each contained an image of sevens. During a single night Pharaoh dreamt two dreams with each dream containing one image of sevens and another image of sevens which would consume the first series and first image of sevens. Confused, alarmed, and perplexed by the meaning of the dreams Pharaoh called all his magicians and wise men in the land of Egypt hoping they would interpret them, however none could. It would be in that moment when the chief butler would remember his fault and would remember Joseph, and would speak favorably of Joseph in the presence of the king. Joseph would be brought forth from the midst of the prison, and brought into the presence of Pharaoh king of Egypt where he would hear and listen to the dreams which he dreamt. After hearing the dreams which Pharaoh dreamt Joseph proceeded to declare unto Pharaoh that the living God showed him what he was about to do, and how the fact that there were two dreams speaks to the fact that the matter was ordained and decreed by the living God and would and could not be altered. Additionally, Joseph would instruct Pharaoh to find for himself one who was wise and discerning who would oversee the seven years of plenty which would be found in the land in order that during those years of plenty food and sustenance might be gathered together to be used when the seven years of famine struck the earth and came upon the land. That which Joseph spoke unto Pharaoh pleased him, and he could find no one else more worthy to oversee this process than Joseph, and as a direct result of this reality he appointed Joseph as second in command in all the land of Egypt behind only him. What’s more is that he gave him his signet ring, and even gave him Asenath as his wife who would bear him two sons. After the seven years of plenty had concluded and two years into the dearth and famine Jacob would speak unto his sons and instruct them to journey down into the land of Egypt in order that they might purchase corn for them to eat and not die. It would be in the land of Egypt where Joseph’s brethren would encounter and come face to him—although Joseph didn’t immediately reveal himself unto them and make himself known. It would be through a series of events which would take place between Joseph and his brothers that eventually would result in his youngest brother Benjamin being brought down into the land of Egypt. It’s interesting and worth noting that each time Joseph encountered his brethren—first when he heard them speak of the evil they committed against him, and second when he saw his brother Benjamin—he was overcome and overwhelmed with emotion and had to leave their presence in order to compose himself.

Eventually the account of Joseph would find him revealing and making himself known unto them, and how he was Joseph whom they had sold into slavery. What’s more, is that when you read the account and narrative of this dramatic reveal you will find that Joseph declared unto and instructed his brethren not to be angry nor grieved with themselves because of what they had done to and against him, for it was the Lord who had sent him down into the land of Egypt to preserve for them a posterity within the earth. Joseph spoke unto and instructed his brethren not to be angry with themselves, for that which they meant for evil the living God meant for God in order that He might fulfill and accomplish His divine plans and purposes in the earth. What I so absolutely love and appreciate about Joseph’s revelation of who he was unto his brothers was that he could have very easily chosen to keep his identity a secret and chosen to never make himself known unto them. Joseph could have very easily chosen to serve his own self interests and his own desires and not revealed or made known himself unto his brethren and let them continue in life without every knowing that he was still alive. The truth of the matter is that had Joseph chosen to refrain from revealing and making himself known unto his brethren he would have quite possibly ignored the fact that what they meant for evil the living God meant for God. In fact, I can’t help but wonder if Joseph didn’t know and wasn’t aware of the fact that what they meant for evil the living God meant for good until he came face to face with them in the land of Egypt. We know and understand from these chapters that it would be when the dreams which he had all those years earlier were fulfilled that he would remember them while in the presence of his brothers. With that being said, I would also dare say that it wouldn’t be until he found himself in the presence of his brothers when he finally realized the meaning and purpose of everything he had gone through and everything he had experienced and endured. Pause for a moment and think about that, for it is truly astonishing and unique when you think about it. We know that it wasn’t until Joseph was actually walking in and experiencing the fulfillment of the dreams that he remembered the dreams he had all those years earlier, but I would also dare state that it wasn’t until Joseph found himself standing in the presence of his brethren that he realized what it was all for. THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZE WHAT IT WAS ALL FOR! THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZE WHY IT ALL TOOK PLACE! REMEMBERING THE DREAMS YOU HEAD, RELEASING YOUR BROTHERS FROM THE BURDEN OF OFFENSE, RECOGNIZING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, AND REALIZING WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT! Oh, I can’t help but be absolutely gripped and captivated with the fact that there came a moment while Joseph was in the presence of his brothers when he truly realized the meaning and purpose behind everything he had gone through—the meaning and purpose behind the pit, behind being sold into slavery, behind being cast into prison, and ultimately being elevated and promoted within the land of Egypt.

I feel compelled to remain on this subject of realizing and recognizing what it was all for and what it was all about, for as you read the narrative and account of Joseph you will find that when he finally revealed himself unto his brothers he declared unto them the reason behind their actions against him, as well as how their actions positioned him to be in a place to preserve their lives in the midst of that which lie ahead over the course of the next five years. I absolutely love and am greatly captivated with the fact that Joseph understood the reason behind everything that had taken place in his life, and even spoke of and declared that reality in the company and presence of his brothers. The question I can’t help but ask is at what point did Joseph realize and recognize the reason behind everything he had gone through and experienced. Did Joseph realize and recognize it when he first saw his brethren as they came down into the land of Egypt, or did he realize and recognize it when they came down a second time seeking additional corn and bread? We aren’t sure at what point Joseph realized and recognized the purpose behind everything that had taken place within his life, but I would dare say that Joseph didn’t truly realize and recognize that which had taken place and the reason behind it until he came face to face with his brothers. What is so incredibly intriguing and captivating about this reality is when you think about and consider the fact that there was a moment within the life of Joseph when he came face to face—not only with his brethren and the evil they had committed against him, but also the reason behind the evil. UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE EVIL! With that being said, I feel the need to speak unto you who would read the words found within this writing and declare unto you that this realization and this recognition might not take place in the time frame you desire or even would wish. In fact, I would even dare state that this recognition and realization might not even be found in this life, and you might not understand the true reason and purpose behind everything you went through until you pass between this life and the next. For Joseph, he realized the reason and meaning behind everything he had experienced within his life at the hands of his brothers, and even at the hands of his master and his master’s wife until two years of famine had already come upon the earth, and as he stood in the company and presence of his brothers. IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE & IN THE MIDST OF THE BRETHREN! It is truly astonishing to think about and consider the fact that for Joseph—he didn’t truly realize and recognize the true reason and purpose behind what he had gone through and experienced until he came face to face with his brothers in the midst of the famine and realized that they were being impacted and affected by the famine. What’s more, is that Joseph knew there would be five more years of famine that would be upon the earth, as well as the fact that he was in a position to look after and care for his brethren, his father, and their household.

The more I think about and the more I consider the life and narrative of Joseph the more I can’t help but come face to face with the reality that it was in the presence of his brethren—in the presence of those who had sinned against him—that he not only remembered his dreams, and he not only recognized the sovereignty of the living God, but he also realized what it was all for and why everything happened the way that it did. Oh I would dare say there are times in our lives when we don’t truly realize the reason and purpose behind the things we have gone through until we come face to face with that which caused us such great pain, such great hurt, such great sorrow and anguish. I firmly believe that there are times in our lives when our dreams might lie dormant and might even be forgotten until we are actually walking in the fulfillment of them and it’s in that moment we remember those dreams. At the time Joseph dreamt those dreams I am sure he had absolutely no idea what they meant or even what significance they would have on him and the lives of his brethren and father, but in that moment when his brothers came and bowed their faces to the ground before him he remembered the dreams and understood the interpretation of the dreams. What makes this so incredibly intriguing and captivating is that Joseph was able to interpret the dream of the chief baker, he was able to interpret the dream of the chief butler, and he was able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh king of Egypt, but when it came to his own dreams, he could and would not understand the meaning of the dreams—much less even remember them—until he was actually walking in and experiencing the fulfillment of them. What’s more, is that not only did Joseph remember the dreams which he had all those years earlier, but it would be in the the company and presence of his brothers that he realized what it was all for and what it was all about. I am firmly convinced that it is possible that we might be able to understand the dreams those around us have, and it might be possible that we are able to provide insight into the dreams, the visions and that which the living God is speaking unto those around us, yet when it comes to our own dreams, our own visions, and that which the living God is speaking and has spoken unto us we aren’t aware of its meaning until we are actually walking the fulfillment of them. It is absolutely and incredibly possible that we are able to speak to and provide meaning behind the dreams which others before and around us dream, and yet when it comes to our own dreams we aren’t made aware of the meaning behind them until we are actually walking in the fulfillment of them within our lives. What’s more is that even though we might know with our minds that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose, however, we aren’t truly made aware of what God is doing and what He has been doing until we actually come face to face with the reality of what we faced within and throughout the course of our lives.

Joseph found himself standing in the presence of his brethren, and it was in the company and presence of his brethren that he remembered the dreams he had dreamt all those years earlier, and it was in their presence when he realized the reason behind their actions against him, and why he had been sent down into the land of Egypt. Oh please don’t miss and please don’t lose sight of this absolutely incredible and tremendous reality, for if you lay hold of it I am convinced it has the ability to completely and radically transform your life from the inside out. Joseph stood in the presence of his brethren and those who had sinned against him, and it was as he stood in the company and in the presence of his betrayers that he remembered the dreams he had dreamt and realized the fulfillment of those dreams was taking place before his eyes. WHEN THE FULFILLMENT OF YOUR DREAMS UNFOLDS BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES! What’s more, is that it would be in the company and in the presence of his brethren that he would come face to face with and realize the reason and purpose behind their betrayal and their actions against him, for it was not them who had sent him down into the land of Egypt, but rather it was the living God who had sent him down into the land of Egypt to prepare him for that moment when he would rise to the place he could preserve their lives in the earth and in the midst of a famine which would come upon the earth and last a full seven years. It wouldn’t be until two years into the famine when Jacob would send his brethren into the land of Canaan, however, it would be their need and their hunger that would send them down into the presence of their brother, and that one who would look after, care for, and preserve their lives over the next five years—and even in the years to come. Oh how absolutely wonderful and astonishing it truly is to think about and consider the fact that it wasn’t until Joseph stood in the presence of his brethren that he finally came to the point and place where he realized and recognized—not only the sovereignty of the living God, but also the reason and purpose behind everything he had gone through. He realized and recognized that it was the sovereignty of the living God who had taken the evil of his brothers and transformed it into good, but he also realized and recognized the true meaning and purpose behind the evil they had committed against him. Please don’t be too quick to overlook this, for I am convinced these two realities go hand in hand—realizing the sovereignty of the living God, and realizing the meaning and purpose behind what you have gone through. Within the life of Joseph we do in fact see dreams remembered, but we also see the sovereignty of God realized and recognized as Joseph not only understands that what his brothers meant for evil the living God meant for good, but also the reason and purpose behind it all. With that being said though—the question that I must ask you who are reading this writing is whether or not you can and will be satisfied if you never understand the meaning and purpose behind what you have gone through and experienced. Would you still worship, would you still walk with, would you still follow the living God—even though you might not understand the reason and meaning behind those things you have experienced within your life? Would you still be satisfied if you did in fact recognize and realize the sovereignty of the living God within your life, however, you never understood the meaning and purpose behind that which you experienced and have walked through? We know for a fact that Joseph understood and realized the meaning and purpose behind that which he had walked through, however, you and I must ask ourselves is whether or not we would still worship the living God if we never entered into the same realization and knowledge.

With all of this being said, I can’t help but find it absolutely and incredibly intriguing to think about and consider the fact that as you read the narrative and account of Joseph revealing himself unto his brethren you find him talking to his brethren without the charade and without the translator. After Joseph had revealed and made himself known unto his brethren we find within the Scriptures that he spoke freely unto his brethren in the same language and tongue which they understood and spoke. I have to admit that this completely and utterly fascinates me, for I can’t help but wonder what they talked and what they spoke about. The question that arises within my mind is whether or not Joseph spoke unto them and described what the previous twenty-two years had been like. Did Joseph speak to them of his time in Potiphar’s house and how the presence and favor of the Lord was upon him in the midst of that house? Did Joseph speak unto them about Potiphar’s wife and how she had falsely accused him of making sexual advances against him and how he was ultimately cast into prison where he would remain for two years? Did Joseph describe unto his brothers what life had been like for him from the moment he entered into Egypt until the moment he revealed and manifested himself unto them? As surely as I sit here this morning I have to say that I do not believe Joseph complained about what he had gone through, nor did he make himself out to be a victim who had been mistreated and betrayed. I do not believe for a single moment that when Joseph sat and spoke with his brothers he complained, murmured, or even grumbled before and against his brothers. For Joseph to declare and speak unto his brothers that they ought not to be angry, nor grieved with themselves for what they had done against him reveals the tremendous and incredible reality that he held no grudge, nor did he hold any bitterness and offense toward and against them. In fact, Joseph’s words to his brothers revealed how he was willing to release them from whatever guilt, whatever shame, whatever burden they had been carrying from the time they had sold him into slavery all those years earlier. Within the revelation of Joseph unto his brothers—not only do we find him releasing them from the burden(s) they were potentially carrying concerning the evil they had committed against him, but he also remembered his dreams and realized the sovereignty of the living God in his life and the meaning behind everything he had gone through. When Joseph sat and spoke freely with his brothers there is not a doubt in my mind that he perhaps did not feel the need to waste any time speaking about the past and that which he had gone through, for at that moment in time there was only the present. Oh, how many men and women would enter this moment and would spend so much time living and dwelling in the past that they would and could not enjoy and experience the beauty of the moment they were in and the present? For Joseph, he was delighted and thrilled to be in the company and presence of his brothers, and I would dare say the only thing worth speaking about was the goodness of the living God, and His sovereignty in the midst of his life. If anything, I would dare say that Joseph spoke unto them of the goodness and faithfulness of the living God, and how the living God had watched over and preserved him in the midst of all the trials and troubles he had faced over the years. In that moment there was absolutely no need to speak unto his brethren concerning the evil they had committed against him, nor even the evil that had been committed against him in the land of Egypt, but only of the goodness, the faithfulness and the sovereignty of the living God in his life.

As I prepare to bring this writing to a close I feel the great need to draw and call your attention to the words which are found in the final chapter of this Old Testament book of Genesis, for if you read in the final chapter of the book you will find Jacob the father of Joseph and his brothers dying, and their worrying that Joseph would now exact and take vengeance against them fo the evil they had committed against him all those years earlier. Scripture reveals how they entered and came into his presence and how they spoke unto them of their father’s words unto Joseph that he forgive the trespass of his brethren, and their sin, and the evil they had committed against him. What’s more, is that you will find Joseph’s brethren coming into the presence of their brother and entreating him to forgive them of the evil which they had committed against him, and to not hold it against them. What I absolutely love about this passage is that when Joseph heard the words of his brothers, and when he saw their actions before him he wept and spoke kindly unto them. If you read the words which are found within this writing you will find that Joseph spoke unto them and instructed them to fear not, for he was not in the place of God. Joseph declared unto them that they thought evil against him, but God meant it unto good, in order that He might bring it to pass was it was on that day, to save much people alive. Moreover, Joseph spoke unto them and instructed them to fear not, for he would nourish both they and their little ones in order that he might preserve their lives within the earth. If there is one thing we find at the end of this chapter it’s that even after seventeen years had passed with Jacob also called Israel and his entire household living and dwelling in the land of Egypt, and even after Israel had died there in the land of Egypt, Joseph still didn’t hold a grudge, nor did he harbor any bitterness, nor offense toward his brothers. Despite the fact that Joseph’s brethren were fearful and worried that Joseph would retaliate against them, he comforted them and spoke kindly unto them that he was not in the place of God, and that that which they meant as evil against him the living God meant as good in order that he might bring to pass those things as they were in that present day. Oh how absolutely wonderful and amazing it is to think about and consider that even after all those years had passed with his brethren in the midst of the land Joseph still did not hold a grudge and still did not harbor any bitterness and offense toward his brothers, and he still realized and recognized the sovereignty of the living God in order that He might preserve life within the earth. What’s more is that not only did Joseph recognize and realize that what they meant for evil the living God meant for God, but he also realized and recognized that it wasn’t even about him. All the evil that came upon, and all the evil which befell him in this life had absolutely nothing to do with him, but rather it was about his brethren, about his father, and about future generations in order that the living God might preserve life and make of Israel a great nation in the midst of the land of Egypt. Oh perhaps the single greatest revelation we might ever come to in this life—particularly and especially after we have experienced and walked through such great struggle and conflict—is recognizing that what we have gone through might in fact have had nothing to do with us, but was about those around us and the living God’s desire to preserve and protect life within the earth. What an absolutely incredible place it is to think about and consider the fact that it’s possible that what we have faced within our lives has absolutely nothing to do with us, and about that which the living God desires to do within the earth.