Genesis 50:18-21 “His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said. But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

When we are holding a grudge, our world becomes very small, because all our attention is focused on just one thing. Have you ever seen the movie The Princess Bride? It’s a spoof on a fairytale. While the main plot focuses on the hero Westley rescuing Princess Buttercup from the evil Prince Humperdink’s plot to kill her, one of the major subplots revolves around revenge. Westley’s ally Inigo Montoya has dedicated his life to avenging the death of his father and killing his murderer. It’s all he talks about. He rehearses the fateful meeting over and over. “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” It so consumes him that when he finally gets his revenge, he has no idea what to do with the rest of his life.

What a sad way to live! Even the object of his revenge says so. Joseph, however, refused to live in such a cramped and crowded little world, bound by his anger over what he had lost, consumed with bitterness at the injustice he suffered. He forgave his brothers. He let it go. And it opened his eyes to see the incredible grace of God at work in the middle of his misery. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Joseph doesn’t claim he understands everything God does. He doesn’t say he can see God’s gracious hand bringing good out of every situation. But he can tell that life is about something bigger than just himself. He knows that God’s goodness and grace are capable of taking even the evil intentions and attacks of others, and creating blessings that far outweigh what we think we have suffered. Forgiving his brothers helped him change his perspective.

What an incredible view of God’s grace he received! “The saving of many lives” was bigger than Joseph’s promotion to Prime Minister in Egypt. It was bigger than the opportunity to feed his extended family during the famine. It was bigger than the population of Egypt and surrounding countries coming to find food.

Joseph’s brothers’ evil plan to sell their brother unintentionally saved the family tree of the Savior of the world from extinction by starvation. That means the lives they saved are also yours and mine. Our sins are forgiven, and we will live in heaven forever, in part because one day ten brothers let their anger at their brother Joseph get out of hand.

So don’t hold a grudge. Forgive your brothers and sisters and anyone else who tries to ruin your life, or just your day. Just maybe your perspective will change, and God will let you see his plans at work, saving many souls.