"But now that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers became fearful. 'Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,' they said. . . .
"But Joseph replied, 'Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don't be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.' So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them."
Joseph's brothers had guilty consciences for years, even after being reunited with Joseph. The relationship was not restored because they did not truly receive Joseph's forgiveness. Perhaps it wasn't until this point that Joseph did forgive them. But Joseph now had God's big-picture perspective, and he saw God's hand even in the evil his brothers had done to him. Can you trust God to use for good even the evil things you may have suffered at the hands of others? Are you willing to return good for evil, as Joseph did? You can do so only if you have God's perspective.
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