And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
After Jacob died, the brothers were filled with gloom and distress because they thought Joseph had concealed resentment out of respect for their father and would now hate them and repay all the evil they did to him, including selling him. They sent a messenger pleading for forgiveness as servants of the God of their father, and then fell down before Joseph offering to be his servants. Joseph wept at their distrust because he loved them deeply and could not bear to be thought vengeful or to harbor a spirit of revenge. By asking if he is in the place of God, he refuses to take God's place as judge to punish or avenge them, leaving judging and punishing to God.
After they acknowledged and confessed their sin, he freely forgave them, held no resentful feeling for their former cruelty, and treated them with love, kindness and benevolence rather than as deserving punishment. He told them not to fear, comforted and reassured them, spoke kindly to them, and promised to nourish and care for them and their little ones and children. Although they thought and intended evil against him, God meant it for good to save many people alive, so they need not fear. His forgiveness illustrates Christ, who came to his own and was rejected, hated, falsely accused and put to a shameful death for his righteous life, yet meekly forgave his murderers while suffering, rose to receive all power and authority, now receives into favor and freely pardons all who come repentant confessing their sins, and if they remain true will exalt them to his throne as heirs of the inheritance purchased with his blood.
After Jacob died, the brothers were filled with gloom and distress because they thought Joseph had concealed resentment out of respect for their father and would now hate them and repay all the evil they did to him, including selling him. They sent a messenger pleading for forgiveness as servants of the God of their father, and then fell down before Joseph offering to be his servants. Joseph wept at their distrust because he loved them deeply and could not bear to be thought vengeful or to harbor a spirit of revenge. By asking if he is in the place of God, he refuses to take God's place as judge to punish or avenge them, leaving judging and punishing to God.
After they acknowledged and confessed their sin, he freely forgave them, held no resentful feeling for their former cruelty, and treated them with love, kindness and benevolence rather than as deserving punishment. He told them not to fear, comforted and reassured them, spoke kindly to them, and promised to nourish and care for them and their little ones and children. Although they thought and intended evil against him, God meant it for good to save many people alive, so they need not fear. His forgiveness illustrates Christ, who came to his own and was rejected, hated, falsely accused and put to a shameful death for his righteous life, yet meekly forgave his murderers while suffering, rose to receive all power and authority, now receives into favor and freely pardons all who come repentant confessing their sins, and if they remain true will exalt them to his throne as heirs of the inheritance purchased with his blood.