Who Is Really In Charge?

At the core of every believer is the sense of knowing their place. When a believer receives the Holy Spirit, His soul is permanently branded with humility. A believer knows God is in control, and he himself, is not. He knows God’s role as well as his own. He doesn’t try to step into God’s role, by trying to be and do things he can’t. A great example of this is Joseph. His father dies, and afterwards his brothers make up a story to help keep Joseph from seeking retribution for their behavior earlier in their lives. Joseph reaction is a clear example of how we are to handle adversity and persecution in our lives. True forgiveness is giving up your right to get even. When you do this, it frees us from a thought life that would consume us for the rest of our lives. Instead of focusing on what’s happening, or what’s ahead, the person who refuses to forgive is consumed with thoughts and schemes of revenge. It dominates your thought life. Forgiving isn’t forgetting, it’s releasing the anger and stress by returning to God the act of retribution. For only He can judge 100% accurately, and carry out true justice. Joseph knew this, but unfortunately, his brothers didn’t. In the end, his example of the humility God blesses Joseph with, taught his brothers Who is really in charge. And it’s an example for all of us today. There will always be People that want to harm you, and we need to be cautious about it. But we must never forget, behind the scenes, is a sovereign God directing our path.

14 After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. 15 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.16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you–for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 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. 21 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. Genesis 50:14-21