[NIV] 15 When Joseph‘s brothers saw that their fatherwas dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudgeagainst us andpays us back for all the wrongs we didto him?" - P118
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don‘t be afraid. Am I inthe place of God?
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it forgood to accomplish what is now being done, the savingof manylives. - P118
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about todie. But God will surely come to your aid and take youup out of this land to the land he promised on oath toAbraham, Isaac and Jacob." - P119
When Joseph‘s brothers throw themselves at his feet, declaring them-selves his slaves, they are acting from a rational assumption. - P120
After all, itwould be logical for Joseph to hold a grudge against them on accountof how they treated him in the past. - P120
But Joseph‘s response deconstructstheir logic and demonstrates how counterintuitive grace is. Because hesees God‘s hand even in his worst circumstances, Joseph is able to actgraciously toward those who have gravely wronged him. - P120
He does notmerely forgive his brothers but offers to provide for them and theirchildren. Such an overflow of grace can only come from God‘s loving-kindness. - P120
The better we understand our place as recipients of grace,
the better we become at giving grace to others. - P120
Hebrews 11:22 describes Joseph‘s wish to be buried with his forefathersas a request made by faith. - P120
Despite spending most of his life in Egypt,
marrying an Egyptian woman, and serving as an Egyptian ruler, Josephknows that Egypt is not his true home. - P120
Therefore, he wishes to beburied in Canaan when the Israelites eventually take possession of theland. - P120
Joseph is intimately familiar with God‘s promises, and he looksforward to their fulfillment even as he is about to die. - P120
It is crucial thatwe, too, become well-versed in God‘s promises to us. - P120
Joseph‘s examplealso reminds us that this world is not our home. Rather, we eagerly longfor our true home in heaven. - P120
The command to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) can be quitedaunting-whether we are scared to speak the truth out of fear of con-frontation or are unable to speak in love because we feel we have beendeeply wronged. - P121
But when we first take time to ask God to give us thewisdom and grace we need to initiate these difficult conversations, wereceive power to obey His command and help our relationships thrive. - P121
Dear God, how precious is the abundance of Your grace and promises! - P121
Helpme grow to better understand what You have given me so that I may givemore grace to others. - P121
May my heart always long for You as I journey throughthis life. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P121
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