Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Genesis 45:1-8 (NIV)
45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 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. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
In the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50, he does not fully understand that God’s will, through all of the ups and downs, was to place him in a position to save his family and bring reconciliation. Joseph tried to live a good and righteous life, but other people kept on hurting him and destroying his life. Yet, not through his own power or wisdom, but by God’s work and blessing in his life, Joseph became God’s instrument of blessing and mercy to others. This is the mission of reconciliation that God has given to us, too. Through Jesus’ work on the cross we have a new life of peace, joy, and love. Now God wants us to share that blessing with others through forgiveness, reconciliation and proclaiming the Good News of Jesus’ love to all people, especially those we have hurt or have hurt us. It is not easy and it is not always fun, but God is faithful and will continue to strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit as we cling to Jesus and His cross.