Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

made them distrustful and suspicious that Joseph would now inflict
on them the long-deferred punishment for their crime. They dared
not appear before him but sent a message, "Before your father died
he commanded, saying, '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."
This message touched Joseph, bringing him to tears.
Encouraged by this, his brothers came and fell down before him
with the words, "Behold, we are your servants." Joseph was pained
that they could think he would cherish a spirit of revenge. "Do not
be afraid," he said; "for am I in the place of God? 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. Now
therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little
ones."
Seeing Christ in Joseph
The life of Joseph illustrates the life of Christ. It was envy that
moved the brothers of Joseph to sell him as a slave; they hoped to
prevent him from becoming greater than they themselves. They felt
certain that they would no longer be troubled with his dreams, and
that they had removed all possibility of their fulfillment. But God
overruled their course to bring about the very event they intended to
hinder. Similarly, the priests and elders were jealous of Christ. They
put Him to death to prevent Him from becoming king, but in doing
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