Genesis 50:15-21

Genesis 50:15-21

[15] And when Joseph's  brethren  saw  that their father  was dead,  they said,  Joseph  will peradventure  hate us,  and will certainly  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  [18] And his brethren  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,  much  people  alive.  [21] Now therefore fear  ye not: I will nourish  you, and your little ones.  And he comforted  them, and spake  kindly 

What does Genesis 50:15-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The words of Joseph"s brothers were probably not true ( Genesis 50:16-17). Jacob may have left such a message even though Moses did not record it in Genesis. Since Moses did not record it, he probably intended the reader to conclude that Jacob had not. The brothers feared because of their uneasy consciences rather than Joseph"s behavior (cf. Genesis 50:19).
Joseph"s response to his fearful brothers reveals his attitudes toward God and them ( Genesis 50:18-21; cf. Genesis 27:41). He humbled himself under God"s authority. He regarded God as sovereign over him and the One who had providentially guided all the events of his life. He knew that God"s purposes for him, his family, and all people were good (cf. chs1-2). Consequently he behaved with tender compassion toward his brothers. He proved to be his brothers" keeper (cf. Genesis 4:9). Genesis opened with a couple, Adam and Eve, trying to become like God. It closes with a Prayer of Manasseh , Joseph, denying that he is in God"s place. [1] Judas was to Jesus what Joseph"s brothers were to Joseph. [2]
"The sequence of deceptions that causes this family so much suffering finally comes to an end when Joseph chooses not to take revenge on his brothers." [3]
"Each sentence of his threefold reply is a pinnacle of Old Testament (and New Testament) faith. To leave all the righting of one"s wrongs to God (19; cf. Romans 12:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 4:19); to see His providence in man"s malice (20; cf. on Genesis 45:5); and to repay evil not only with forgiveness but also with practical affection (21; cf. Luke 6:27 ff.), are attitudes which anticipate the adjective "Christian" and even "Christlike."" [1]2
"Behind all the events and human plans recounted in the story of Joseph lies the unchanging plan of God. It is the same plan introduced from the very beginning of the book where God looks out at what he has just created for man and sees that "it is good" (tob, 1:4-31). Through his dealings with the patriarchs and Joseph, God had continued to bring about his good plan. He had remained faithful to his purposes, and it is the point of this narrative to show that his people can continue to trust him and to believe that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ( Romans 8:28)." [5]