Day 20

Genesis 41:17–42:17; Matthew 13:24-46; Psalm 18:1-15; Proverbs 4:1-6

“IT IS BEYOND my power to do this,” Joseph told Pharaoh after being asked to interpret Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease” (Genesis 41:16).

Joseph must have been experiencing a bit of culture shock. He grew up in the land of Canaan until he was sold into slavery by his brothers. His slave life was short because false accusations landed him in a dungeon for years. To then be hauled from prison, given a proper bath and shave, and whisked in front of the Pharaoh of Egypt must have been disconcerting. A wrong answer could have ended his life or sent him back into the dungeon.

Despite all that Joseph had gone through, he did not waver from his source of devotion, and God gave him the interpretation to Pharaoh’s dreams. “The next seven years,” Joseph told Pharaoh, “will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt” (Genesis 41:29-30).

Joseph offered strategic suggestions for how Pharaoh could prepare for this future. Pharaoh quickly appointed Joseph to implement his plan. And just like that, Joseph went from a dungeon to being second-in-command over the land of Egypt.

Seven years later, after Joseph had prepared Egypt for hard times, the famine hit. It was so widespread that it affected Joseph’s homeland, and before long, Joseph’s brothers were in Egypt, bowing before him as he had dreamed they would so long ago. But they didn’t know who he was —which is a story for another day.

Although there are many twists and turns before us in Joseph’s story, it’s important that we begin seeing the long view. Everything that happened to Joseph up to this point was utterly unjust. Overwhelming sorrow and consuming bitterness would be totally understandable in circumstances like these. But that’s not the story. Somehow, Joseph didn’t lose faith and didn’t blame God. He believed that he was part of a larger story —and that his current circumstances were not the final chapter.

When we find ourselves in a long season where our faith feels as if it has bottomed out, we must remember the long view. There is more going on than we can see, and our Father is good.

PRAYER:

I love you, LORD; you are my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior. . . . He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.