He sent ahead

A lot happened in chapters 32 - 47 but one verse in particular stood out to me.  It's in chapter 45 right after Joseph has revealed his true identity to his brothers.  In verse 5 Joseph says to his brothers:

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

This verse stood out for a couple of reasons. First of all, I would SO love to know what his brothers were thinking.  I bet a few of them were thinking - RUT ROH!!! (read it in your best Scooby Doo voice and you'll know what I mean!)  I'm sure they were scared to death!  They probably thought they were at best going to be thrown into some sort of prison and at worst killed.  But Joseph puts their mind at ease. 

In that one verse he has basically told his brothers that he has forgiven them.  He wasn't holding a grudge.  He wasn't harboring anger.  He wasn't rubbing his hands together in glee about what he was going to do to them to exact his revenge.  He was instead thrilled to see them and so excited that he was going to be able to do something to preserve their very lives. That must have been so humbling for his brothers.  To see what their little brother had turned into and to realize that he was not going to give them what they deserved but rather was going to provide for them and bless them.

Joseph had matured through all of his trials.  He was no longer the teenager who rubbed the fact that he was his Dad's favorite into the faces of his brothers.  He was not the same guy who had walked around strutting his stuff in a colorful robe.  God had changed him.  Joseph had a heart for God.  Because of his trials and struggles, Joseph saw things from a different perspective.  Rather than flaunting his position in Pharaoh's household, Joseph offered help to his brothers.  Rather than being angry, Joseph had allowed God to change his heart and use him for a greater purpose.

He could have turned into a bitter, mean, horrible man that had a closed off heart that couldn't be used of God.  But he didn't.  Just like Job, he persevered.  Just like Noah, he did the tasks laid before him. And LOOK at what God did!!! I'm sure Joseph didn't like being thrown into the pit or sold into slavery but look at where he was now! God had taken what was meant for pain and destruction and turned it into something beyond what could have ever been imagined.

I mean just think about it!  Could Joseph (or his brothers for that matter) ever have imagined that he would some day grow up to be the head of Pharaoh's household?  Of course, God showed Joseph in a dream that some day he would have power, but that was from God.  Those weren't Joseph's imaginings or daydreams.  His brothers laughed at him when he told them those dreams because they knew how ridiculous it was.  Little did any of them know what God really had in mind! :-)

The second reason this particular verse stood out to me is that it reminds me of Jesus.  God sent His only Son ahead to save lives.  God made a way for Joseph's brothers and for all of Egypt by sending Joseph ahead and God made a way for all of us by sending Jesus ahead.  Wow! When all seems lost - God makes a way.  When there seems to be no hope - God makes a way.  When death seems to be knocking at the door - God makes a way.  God's love is in that verse.  His heart for His people is in that verse.  He sent 'ahead'. 

God made provision. He sent 'ahead'.  He wasn't just waiting to see what happened.  No! He was in control.  He had a plan.  He sent 'ahead'.  Just like Joseph's brothers took a journey to Egypt to ask for help, we have to take a journey to Jesus to ask for help.  God has sent 'ahead' but we have to do our part too.  We have to step out.  We have to open our hands and our hearts.  God has sent 'ahead' and Jesus is waiting for us to come to Him.  Because of Jesus, we will not get what we deserve.  He took our sin on the cross and stood in our place.  What a humbling, amazing picture that is!  Instead of getting what we deserve, we get Jesus!  All we have to do is ask Him into our hearts!  God sent 'ahead'.  He made a way!