Gen 50:15-21, Pro 16:32, 20:3, 25:21, Mat 5:44-45, 18:21-22, Rom 12:18-21 | ESV | STEP | When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead , they said , It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.

Genesis 50:15-21

God’s Good Purposes

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of ^athe God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and ^bfell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for ^cam I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but ^dGod meant it for good, to bring it about that many people ^{▼▼Or a numerous people} should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; ^fI will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Proverbs 16:32

32 ^gWhoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 20:3

3 It is an honor for a man to ^hkeep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 25:21

21 ⁱIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

Matthew 5:44-45

44 But I say to you, ^jLove your enemies and ^kpray for those who persecute you, 45 ^lso that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and ^msends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 18:21-22

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often ⁿwill my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? ^oAs many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Romans 12:18-21

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, ^plive peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, ^qnever avenge yourselves, but leave it ^{▼▼Greek give place} to the wrath of God, for it is written, ^s“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, ^t“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.