Genesis 45:5

Be not grieved... that ye sold me.

He tried to lead them away from their self-reproaches, and from fear and despair, to consider the overruling providence and the gracious ways of God in working out the salvation of his people. Not that he wished to roll the responsibility of their crime on God, but only to encourage their confidence, and to induce them to trust in the plans he had formed for the future comfort of their father and themselves.

God did send me before you to preserve life.

God is often working out gracious purposes by overruling the wicked purposes of men. He had sent Joseph into Egypt to preserve the promised race from starvation and to effect other gracious purposes. He sees the end from the beginning, while our eyes are holden until the end comes.--X. One cannot admire too much the gracious and forgiving spirit of Joseph. His brethren are in his power, but as soon as he perceives their contrition, he not only forgives all, but tries to heal the wound and to palliate their misdeeds. "You sold me, it is true, but God sent me into Egypt. Egypt and Canaan both would have perished had it not been for God's merciful providence. The Hebrew race, my father, you and your children were to come down here, and. was sent before you. Death would have been the result of this famine if God had not sent me here to preserve life."