Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 8 September 2014 - Genesis 50:15-21

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Monday, 8 September 2014 - Genesis 50:14-15 After burying his father, Joseph went back to Egypt. All his brothers who had come with him to bury his father returned with him. After the funeral, Joseph’s brothers talked among themselves: “What if Joseph is carrying a grudge and decides to pay us back for all the wrong we did him?”
16-17 So they sent Joseph a message, “Before his death, your father gave this command: Tell Joseph, ‘Forgive your brothers’ sin—all that wrongdoing. They did treat you very badly.’ Will you do it? Will you forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God?”
When Joseph received their message, he wept.
18 Then the brothers went in person to him, threw themselves on the ground before him and said, “We’ll be your slaves.”
19-21 Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.(The Message)
Much of life is a matter of perspective. Do you see the end of an era or the beginning of something new? Do you look out at a field of dandelions and see hundreds of weeds or hundreds of wishes waiting to be made? Joseph has plenty of evil to be angry about, and yet he reaches a point when he can look back and say to his brothers, "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good."
A glass half full outlook can't erase evil, but an opportunity to step back and imagine God's intention and power for new life can bring renewed focus and perspective. God's redemptive work in the world throughout all of history reminds us that goodness is stronger than evil. We all have something hard going on in our lives. How might God be working through your situation with good intentions?
Lord, open my eyes today to new possibilities. Help me to imagine how you are at work doing good in the world around me. Amen.
Lisa Kipp
Rochester, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 2013
Genesis 50:15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?"
16 So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died,
17 "Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as your slaves."
19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?
20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.
21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.(New Revised Standard Version)
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