The Big Picture

"Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come closer to me.' And they came closer. And he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.'" -Genesis 45.4-8

"Hey guys, I'm Joseph your brother whom you planned to kill, but then decided to sell into slavery." You can see the jaws drop, the fear and panic fill their eyes, maybe even a couple of tunics got damp. Here he is, perfectly set to take revenge. But then the chaos is brought to order, Joseph tells them don't be afraid. He has come to see the big picture.

Everything that has taken place over the past several years has led up to this, being in position to save the country of Egypt, his family, and everyone else in the region. It was Joseph whom God revealed the meaning of Pharaoh's dream to, and Joseph who was wise enough to plan for the future. And Joseph realizes this. He's already praised God because of the blessings he's received, but here when many would take revenge, he offers forgiveness.

Men, when we see the big picture, or at least come to the realization that our lives are part of the bigger picture, we are able to offer forgiveness instead of vengeance. When we see ourselves as part of the big picture we are able to praise, and trust, God through the times of slavery and prison. When we see our lives as part of the big picture we can endure the mundane and monotonous.

God sent Joseph to save lives. In order to get to the position where he could he was betrayed by family, sold as a slave, promoted but falsely accused and imprisoned, and then promoted twice after that. What are you going through, and how does it fit into the big picture? Your life is called to be part of something epic, are you willing to pursue it? Will you look for the big picture?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor