You Meant Evil AGainst me; But God meant it for good...

Read Genesis 50:15-21

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.

This is one of the most amazing passages i've read and am reading it again thru our devotions at the shop today.
Besides what the commentaries have said about not taking revenge and looking at our circumstance in God's light, this thought came to mind....
Joseph could have turned out to be a real bitter, angry, hateful, revengeful person. After all life's circumstances created it for him. He was cheated, lied to, abandoned, abused, forgotten and God knows what else was done to him. He wasn't shielded from the evil of the world. He faced them all .... and if he was bitter and angry and revengeful... counselors today would feel sorry for him and do everything they can to help him. Or he would be a bag case and insecure and ...... He probably had more bad memories than good ones.

He had the right to be all of the above. And yet he wasn't..... How did he stay sane in circumstances like that? How was he able to forgive his brothers who did the worse evil to him? How could he continue to love his enemies....

I can't imagine how humanly possible that is. But i know one thing Joseph had.... He had his focus on the Lord. No matter what happened, he just stayed focused above. God rewarded him of course... the story has a happy ending here on earth. But many stories we know today may not have such happy successful endings.... But then again.... where is our focus? The end is not here where we are on transit.... the end and happily ever after does exist.... not here and now... but eternity! Rick Warren said in Purpose Driven Life... Life is just a dress reheasal for the real thing. The drama is about to happen! We are not there yet! Stay focused!