Genesis, Chapters 41 &42
Finally, two years after the Cup Bearer gets out of prison, his memory is jogged when Pharaoh has a disturbing dream that no one is able to interpret. All of the sudden the Cup Bearer remembers Joseph. Was he still in that dark, dank prison? Maybe it's not too late. Maybe Joseph can interpret Pharaoh's dream like he did for me.
You get a sense in vs. 14 that they wasted no time in bringing Joseph out of prison and into the presence of Pharaoh. A shave, haircut and new duds came first. Kind of reminds me of the Wizard of Oz, where they get all spruced up to see the Great Oz.
I love vs. 16 where Joseph gives all the credit to God. He's the first to admit that it's not by his great powers that he is able to do this dream interpretation thing, and the Egyptians obviously know that he is a Hebrew. Pharaoh had to be aware that they didn't serve the same God, but who cares what God he serves, just interpret the dream! (The Egyptians had many gods, so it was kind of a "more the merrier" attitude with them I guess!) They were about to see the power of the one true God, the God of Israel. Upon hearing the Pharaoh's dream, Joseph quickly and easily gives the interpretation. Pharaoh likes what he hears and so does everyone else because the next thing you know, Joseph is riding down main street in his own "stretch chariot" right behind the Pharaoh, and he's now only 30 years old! Talk about being at the top of your game!
1 Peter 5:6 says: "humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty had of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you." I wonder if the Apostle Peter was thinking about this example when he wrote that verse. Reading this impresses upon my heart how The Lord always sees our situations. (Remember earlier with Hagar...You are the God who sees me!) It just doesn't matter what the devil throws in our path to trip us up, as we humble ourselves before God, nothing is going to stop the good things He has planned for us from coming to pass! Sometimes life just takes a real good dose of patience, doesn't it? I am also reminded right now of the verse in James 1:4, that says to let patience have it's perfect work! Golly, did Joseph have to be patient, or what! I find myself being impatient so often in my circimstances of life. It is so beneficial for me to read this and be reminded of God's intervention in the lives of His beloved children! One day you can be so perplexed about your situation and wondering if anything will ever change, and in the next moment it's like the heaven's part and your eyes are opened to the Glory of God!
Chapter 42 is the record of Joseph being reunited with all but one of his brothers. (Yes, these are the same brothers that threw him away in the pit and then sold him as a slave!) The famine of Egypt is also severe in the land of Canaan. Jacob tells his sons to come to Egypt and get grain and bring it back to their families. Which, of course they did. Little did they know it would be the grocery store trip of their lives! The story that unfolds is so wonderful, not just because the family is once again reunited, but to see Joseph's heart for them, to see his extreme forgiveness.
Do you wonder how a man could be so forgiving when it was in his power to get even? Well, I'm getting a little ahead of myself (ok, I confess, I read ahead a few chapters, but I couldn't put the book down, this is exciting stuff!) but in chapter 45 he tells his brothers not to be distressed, for it was God's plan in preserving the promise that had brought this to pass. He later says in chapter 50:20: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
Just a few more things I want to mention about chapter 42. As forgiving as Joseph was in his heart to his brothers, he didn't let them off the hook immediately or too easily. He played a few mind games with them, as you can read in this chapter. It all turns out wonderful for them, but Joseph kept them wondering for a while. Can't say that I blame him.
Well, tomorrow I'm on to chapters 43-45. Chapter's 43 & 44 are more of the details of their reunion. Chapter 45 is the big "reveal". It's my favorite part of this story and I can't wait to share it with you. Until then.....be blessed in the Lord's Grace to you!
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