Scripture Post #1,721: *JOSEPH WEPT*

Genesis 50:17:

"So 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."

Joseph, in his old age, after his father, Israel, had died, wept over his brother's touching words to him. His brothers sent a messenger to him, pleading forgiveness for the sins they'd committed over 50 years ago! They still felt badly for selling Joseph into slavery when he was 17 years old. They thought that after their father had died, that Joseph would hate and requite them for this evil they had done long ago. They thought their brother, Joseph, didn't really love them. That he was only tolerating them on account of their father's old heart. They got on their knees before him saying, "Behold, we be thy servants." (Gen. 50:18.)

Gen. 50:19: "And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?"

Gen. 50:20: "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."

GOD used the ugly situation for a beautiful outcome. Joseph's brothers were jealous of him, and hated him. But by selling him into slavery, they wound up saving themselves and the world from famish and demise. 

Context:

Gen. 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." 

Verse 16: "And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,"

V. 17: "So 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."

V. 18: "And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants."

V. 19: "And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?"

V. 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."

V. 21: "Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."

Originally Published: Tue. 5 • 30 • 17