So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. [5] And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. [6] For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. [7] And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. [8] So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. [9] Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. [10] You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. [11] There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ [12] And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. [13] You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” [14] Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. [15] And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
Genesis 45 (ESV)

WHEN I LET GOD BE GOD…

1. I HAVE PEACE OVER THE PAST
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. [2] And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.
(vs. 1-2)

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
(vs. 3)

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. [5] And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
(vs. 4-5)

[14] Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. [15] And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
(vs. 14-15)

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19 (ESV)

2. I HAVE PERSPECTIVE IN PRESENT PROBLEMS
So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
(vs. 8)

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God [20] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Genesis 50:19-20 (ESV)

3. I HAVE POWER TO INFLUENCE OTHERS FOR GOD’S GLORY
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”
(vs. 24)

And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them.
(vs. 26)

But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
(vs. 27)