What does Genesis 45:7 mean?

This states more directly what Joseph pointed out earlier (Genesis 45:5). Joseph's brothers committed a crime by selling him into slavery. Their guilt is not in question. And yet, even that action was part of God's plan. God "sent" Joseph into Egypt, and He did so for a reason. Joseph's experiences were part of a plan that would rescue the people of Israel. Joseph speaks using terms such as "you" and "yours," meaning his own estranged family can now expect to survive this devastating famine (Genesis 45:6).

Statements such as these are remarkable in the context of all Joseph has suffered. He was cruelly sold into slavery at the age of seventeen (Genesis 37:1–2; 24–28). Despite integrity and success, he was falsely imprisoned (Genesis 39:19–20) and largely forgotten (Genesis 40:23). After thirteen years of oppression, he was miraculously lifted to become the second most powerful man in Egypt (Genesis 41:44–46). Now, Joseph can see how his experiences positioned him to save his entire family.

Joseph understands that his suffering was not the result of pointless chance. Nor was God displeased with him. It was because of God's purpose and plan to save lives. Joseph knew his life always mattered, even during the isolated years away from his family in Egypt. This is a difficult, but important part of biblical truth: that even our hardest experiences are part of God's ultimate plan for good (Romans 8:28).