Such grace & mercy...

Genesis 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.

4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

5 “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

6 “For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

7 “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Here, Joseph cant hold back no more. It appears he toys with his brothers but I do believe he had better purpose than that. All their stewing over their sin brought about godly sorrow, not forced by Joseph. Joseph tells them not to be greived over all they done for God has allowed those horrible things to preserve their lives. What grace in that statement. Sounds like Jesus to me! He never condemns us though we have done actions warranting condemnation. Josephs story parallels that of Jesus' in many aspects. Definately types and shadows. Joseph had to have a strong connection to the LORD in order to possess this display of grace & mercy.