Joseph spent nearly all if his adult life alienated from his family. How sad it must have been for him, sold into slavery by his brothers, cut off from his parents, a stranger in a strange land, falsely accused of a crime, stuck in a prison? I cannot begin to fathom it. 

God, however, was merely preparing him for His service. He would move Joseph into a position of influence, and use him to store up food in preparation of famine. Through Joseph, God saved the people of Egypt and preserved what would become the nation of Israel. 

When his brothers came groveling to Joseph, who had become one of the most powerful men in Egypt, it might have been easy for him to exact vengeance on them. Instead, he showed them mercy. 

“Fear not,” he told them, “for, although you meant evil again me, God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

Joseph was so assured by God’s loving presence that he was able to demonstrate God’s mercy. 

We have the same assurance. If we surrender ourselves to God’s control, we can be assured that all things will “work together for good” (Romans 8:28). 

Fear Not for God is in control.