John Calvin Commentary Genesis 50:19

"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?" — Genesis 50:19 (ASV)

Am I in the place of God? Some think that, in these words, he was rejecting the honor paid him, as if he would say that it was unjustly offered to him because it was due to God alone. But this interpretation lacks probability, since he often permitted himself to be addressed in this manner and knew that the minds of his brothers were utterly averse to transferring the worship of God to a mortal man.

I equally disapprove of another meaning given to the passage, which makes Joseph refuse to exact punishment because he is not God; for he does not restrain himself from retaliating for the injury in the hope that God will prove his avenger. Others propose a third meaning: namely, that the whole affair was conducted by the counsel of God and not by his own. Although I do not entirely reject this because it approaches the truth, I do not embrace the interpretation as true.

For the word תחת (tachat) sometimes signifies instead of; sometimes it means subjection. Therefore, if the note of interrogation were not in the way, it might well be rendered, “Because I am under God;” and then the sense would be, “Fear not, for I am under God;” Joseph would thus teach them that because he is subject to the authority of God, it is not his business to lead the way, but to follow.

But, since ה (he), the note of interrogation, is prefixed to the word, it can only be expounded as meaning that it would be wrong for him, a mortal man, to presume to thwart the counsel of God. However, as to the sum of the matter, there is no ambiguity.

For since Joseph considers the design of divine providence, he restrains his feelings as with a bridle, lest they should carry him to excess. He was indeed of a mild and humane disposition; but nothing is better or more suitable to assuage his anger than to submit himself to be governed by God.

When, therefore, the desire of revenge urges us, let all our feelings be subjected to the same authority. Moreover, since he desires his brothers to be tranquil and secure, and because he himself, ascribing due honor to God, willingly submits to obey the divine command; let us therefore learn that it is greatly to our advantage to deal with men of moderation, who set God before them as their leader, and who not only submit to His will but also cheerfully obey Him.

For if anyone is helplessly carried away by the lust of the flesh, we must fear a thousand deaths from him, unless God should forcibly break his fury.

Now, as the one remedy for assuaging our anger is to acknowledge what we ourselves are and what right God has over us, so, on the other hand, when this thought has taken full possession of our minds, there is no passion, however furious, which this thought will not suffice to mitigate.