Seeing as God Sees: The Contrast Between Joseph and His Brothers

Listen to today’s passage – Genesis 48 – 50

Follow Along on Blue Letter Bible – Genesis 48

(Second Milers also read – Mark 9 – 10; Proverbs 19; Psalms 91 – 95)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105

Read the “0119 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Graduation Day“

“15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” (Gen 50:15–21)

After years of reconciliation, Jacob’s death stirs fresh fear in Joseph’s brothers. With their father gone—the one who had kept Joseph’s kindness in check—they panic. What if Joseph finally repays them for the pit, the slavery, and all the evil they did to him?

They send a message claiming Jacob commanded before he died: “Forgive thy brethren.” Yet Genesis records no such command from Jacob. Many Bible teachers (and perhaps you’ve noticed this too) see this as a fabrication—a desperate, carnal scheme to shield themselves. Instead of trusting Joseph’s proven forgiveness or God’s work in his heart, they resort to manipulation and half-truths. Fear drives them to human methods rather than faith.

Joseph’s response stands in stark contrast. He weeps—likely grieved that after all these years, his brothers still doubt his heart. Then he speaks one of the Bible’s greatest declarations of God’s sovereignty: “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Joseph sees the entire story—the betrayal, the prison, the rise to power—not as random cruelty, but as God’s sovereign hand weaving salvation for many lives, including their own.

Here is the clear divide:
  • The brothers operate in the flesh—fearful, self-protective, scheming.
  • Joseph walks in faith—gracious, trusting, seeing God’s greater purpose even in evil.
Reflection
  • How often do we act like the brothers? When we’ve wronged someone and fear the consequences, do we trust God’s grace in their heart, or do we manipulate circumstances to “help” God along.
  • When painful things happen to us, do we fixate on the evil others intended, or do we look for how God is turning it to good?
  • Joseph’s words in verse 20 are a lifeline for every believer. Evil is real. People really do intend harm. But God is greater. He does not originate the evil, yet He overrules it, redirects it, and brings life from it—to save many, to shape us, and to display His glory.
Application
  • Is there a relationship where lingering guilt or fear is causing you to resort to “carnal” solutions instead of resting in the forgiveness already extended?
  • Think of a painful chapter in your own life. Can you trace—even faintly—how God has brought good from what others (or circumstances) meant for evil?
  • Who in your life needs to hear a Joseph-like reassurance today: “Fear not: I will nourish you”?
Commit to following this advice from Proverbs today:

“5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:5–6)


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Full Disclosure

Today’s Passage – Genesis 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 7 – 8; Proverbs 4; Psalms 16 – 20)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1

Read the 0104 Evening and Morning devotion for today by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Finding, Obeying, and Staying in the Place of God’s Will;” “Don’t Move Unless God Moves You;“ “The Beginning of Globalism; ”  “The Land Belongs to Israel;” and “The Earth was Divided.”

Have you ever lied to get yourself out of some type of trouble. In our text, Abram (Abraham) lied to Pharaoh by telling him that Sarai (Sarah) was his sister:

“10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. 17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.” (Gen 12:10-20)

Technically speaking, Abraham was accurate when he said that Sarai was his sister because she was his half-sister, the daughter of his father Terah. However, he was leaving out a big part of his relationship with Sarai and was not being completely truthful. The half-truth that Abraham told here and again in Genesis 20, this time to Abimelech, was the cause of many problems for Abraham’s family and for the people that he was lying to. Really, it represented a lack of faith on the part of Abraham to trust God to deliver his family from difficult situations even when he fully disclosed his relationship with Sarai. 

I have a few thoughts about this passage:

A Legitimate Fear

Abraham was right to be concerned about his family’s welfare in Egypt. Egypt was a dangerous place, and it certainly was a possibility that the Pharaoh would kill Abraham to steal his wife.

Have you ever faced a legitimate fear that tested your trust in God’s provision?

A Questionable Decision: Leaving Canaan

Abraham should not have gone to Egypt in the first place. He had just been told by God that Canaan was the land that God was going to give Abraham. When the famine came, however, Abraham’s faith in God’s ability to feed him through the famine was tested, and Abraham followed his own human wisdom instead and went into Egypt where food was more plentiful.

The Dangers Involved in Abraham’s Plan

Abraham premeditated and colluded with Sarai to not disclose to anybody in Egypt that Sarai was his wife. I wonder if Abraham would have allowed other men to sleep with his wife if he felt that was necessary for his own protection?

The Better Way: Trusting God’s Protection
  • Abraham did not have to volunteer any information regarding his relationship with Sarai, but when he was asked, he should have fully disclosed that she was his wife. God would have protected and blessed him anyway. God is more powerful than any earthly king.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Pro 3:5-6)

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” (Pro 21:1)

It used to be when people were summoned to be a witness in a court of law, they had to swear to “tell the whole truth.” They had to give a full disclosure of whatever they were called upon to be a witness to. It has been my observation that in our society there is a lack of transparency in most people. They are hiding things about themselves because they are afraid of the negative outcome that might be produced if people were to find out. I have discovered that it is best to be completely honest with people; to let them see the real you, even with all the flaws and warts. However, the good news is, even when our faith falters (and it will), God’s faithfulness doesn’t—He protected Abraham and Sarai despite the half-truth, just as He covers us in our weakness.

Have you ever been tempted to withhold part of the truth out of fear? What happened when you chose full honesty instead? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Share this post with someone who needs encouragement to trust God fully.


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