But As For You

Genesis 50:16-21  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,  (17)  So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  (18)  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.  (19)  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  (20)  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  (21)  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

          The preface to this story is that Joseph had many years earlier prophesied what would happen and it infuriated his brothers, consequently selling him as a slave.  Now, their Father Jacob (Israel) was dead, and Joseph was mighty in power.  “What was he going to do to them?”

          Joseph understood his position before God.  He understood God’s Will in his life.  He told them that with his power, in association with the Pharaoh, he would nourish and protect them.  Verse 20 begins with “But as for you,” Joseph told them he knew their hearts.

          We can see in Joseph a Type of Christ.  Joseph was not without sin nor did he die for his brethren.  However, Joseph suffered, was humiliated, and followed the path Jesus would later lay down for us to follow.    

          Jesus our God and our Saviour knows our very hearts and knows how we believe.   

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

          Jesus as God knows through the Holy Ghost when our hearts consider evil.  He knows when we walk down that path of sin, when we are involved, or are just considering stepping over the sin line.                      

          It always comes to, “But as for you” because we as Christians are the problem.  If it wasn’t for Me, Myself, and I, I wouldn’t have any problems.  I am the one who reaches out to the temptations of sin placed before me.  It is my task to refuse, “But as for you” my brethren, (Myself and I) keep me in constant turmoil seemingly always trying to involve me in sin.

          We as Sons of God must react to sin as did Joseph, and say “NO.”  Then again, “But as for you?”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

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