Don’t underestimate how powerful these seven words are… AM I IN THE PLACE OF GOD?
“Am I in the place of God?” That 
seems like a weird response from Joseph in Genesis 50:19-21. He was responding to the question, “Will you please forgive us?” And he responded with a question… am I in the place of God. Don’t you hate it when people respond to a question with a question! =)
Earlier in the book of Genesis Joseph experienced a massive trial. His brothers became jealous of him, dug a pit and threw him in it to be abandoned but changed their mind and sold him as a slave. He ended up serving Pharaoh and was used in mighty ways. The people experienced years of famine in the land and years of plenty and God used Joseph as an instrument in saving the lives of the people from starvation.
So… fast forward to years and years later. Joseph’s dad died and his brothers made dad a death bed promise that they would go make things right with their brother Joseph. So they showed up and said, “Joseph, will you forgive us?” It’s important to try to grasp the gravity of the question. “Will you forgive us for betraying you as our brother, selling you as a slave and causing you to live out your life separated from us and dad?” And Joseph responded, “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 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.”
I’m Not in The Place of God: Here is What That Really Means
- God has a plan for my life.
- God’s plan includes trials.
- Trials often include pain inflicted by other people.
- I can choose to become bitter or better.
- When I choose to live in forgiveness God uses trials to give me a better life than I could have ever experienced if life would have been easy.
Whatever is happening in your life, God wants to use it for good. He wants to use it to create a better life than you could ever imagine. He can do that if you live in forgiveness. Living in forgiveness doesn’t mean “it’s okay that someone hurt you.” Living in forgiveness means, “I’m not taking the place of God. He has a plan for my life and it often includes trials. I will forgive others and choose to let God handle the details while I move forward with no bitterness, choosing to be better because of my trials.”
Read: Genesis 50
Ken Turner
Learn more at https://kenturnerministries.org/walking-with-god/
Email me at kenturner@highimpactteens.org
