" . . . for God sent me before you to preserve life."
Joseph is seeking to comfort his brothers, who had sold him into slavery in Egypt. He also teaches them that it was God, and not them, who was (ultimately) behind his (Joseph's) going there. Here (above), Joseph utters words that are universally true, in the history of the church (and of the whole world)--and that is that the Lord *always* sends His messengers (ministers) *ahead* of others, in order to make the way for life, and to stem the tide of death.
Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was (and is) the greatest example of this. Because He first experienced the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection, He has paved the way for His church to experience them as well.
[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the scope of all the Scriptures but Christ . . . ?" --Richard Sibbes, in "Glorious Freedom"]
