Ge 50:15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."

 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying,

 17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."

 19 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

 20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

 21 "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.


Moses wants his original Israelite readers to learn at least three things here:

First, brethren should live peaceably and be forgiving to one another. This will be expedient when they will come to live in the land of Promise. Offenses will come but forgiveness should be administered when a brother becomes repentant.

Second, they should realize that God is a sovereign God who overrules even the evil done by others against them. That He is a God who can use evil and bring good out of it. That their slavery in Egypt was allowed but overruled by God to bring about good.

Third, they must realize that they are each others keeper. I will provide for you and your little ones. Cain asked: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Joseph's says "Yes!"