Last Tuesday, we left our lesson with Joseph in prison, waiting for the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh. This week, we see Joseph finally seeing God’s plans come to fruition.
Joseph had to wait 20 years (13 years in Potiphar’s house and prison then 7 years with Pharaoh during the years of plenty) to see God’s plan unfold. During those 20 years, Joseph must have questioned God’s timing. But he patiently waited for God to work.
Two years after the cupbearer was restored to his position, Pharaoh has two almost identical dreams in the same night. He is troubled by the dreams, and none of his “wise” advisers can interpret the dreams for him.
The cupbearer remembers Joseph and his gift of interpreting dreams. So Joseph is cleaned up and brought before Pharaoh. Joseph tells Pharaoh that God is foretelling the future in the two dreams. The dreams reveal there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
Joseph gives all credit to God (41:16, 25, 28, 32) and probably would have been happy with being freed from prison. I wonder if he thought he would turn around and head right back to his prison cell after he interpreted the dreams!
Pharaoh accepts Joseph’s interpretation as well as the famine recovery plan God provides in the interpretation. God causes Pharaoh to see Joseph’s wisdom and abilities. Joseph most likely didn’t expect Pharaoh to name him as the “wise and discerning man” to lead the famine relief efforts!
Immediately, Joseph starts to work. He travels the nation and oversees the collection of 20 percent of the crops during the seven years of plenty to be used during the seven years of famine.
Everything God predicted through Joseph comes true. The country experiences seven years of plenty. Then the seven years of famine begin. People from all over Egypt as well as the surrounding areas come to Pharaoh, looking for food and help. Joseph probably had an audience with many of the foreign people. So he may have anticipated that one, some or all of his brothers would come to Egypt, looking for food.
All of Joseph’ brothers (except Benjamin) come to Egypt. They request food and bow before Joseph, fulfilling God’s dreams earlier in Joseph’s life. Joseph puts the brothers through a series to tests to see if anything has changed in their hearts and actions. He was not being cruel but was testing them.
First he accuses them of being spies. He puts them all in prison for a few days. Then he keeps Simeon in prison and sends the rest back to Canaan, asking them to bring Benjamin back with them. Joseph secretly gives them silver and grain. When they see these items in their sacks, the brother recognize God’s hand of discipline and report everything to Jacob, who refuses to send Benjamin with them.
Later Jacob sends all of the brothers, including Benjamin, back to Egypt for more food. Judah tells Jacob that he will take personal responsibility for Benjamin’s safety. The brothers return to Egypt, and Joseph sees how they treat Benjamin. Simeon is released. Joseph serves them a meal and cares for the brothers and their animals. The brothers leave, and Joseph’s silver cup is put in Benjamin’s bag. When Joseph’s servant accuses the brothers of theft, they all go back to Egypt to face Joseph together.
Judah offers himself as a replacement for Benjamin, a foreshadowing of the Messiah who is born in Judah’s line. The brothers confess and repent of their sins against Joseph.
Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers. The brothers must have feared for their future since their fate was in the hands of a brother they had mistreated and wronged. But Joseph was not vengeful. He only thought of forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph knew that God did all of this (45:7-8). He didn’t blame the brothers at all for his suffering in the past.
Pharaoh instructs the brothers to go home and to return with their families and possessions. He will let them live in the best land (Goshen).
Joseph’s life teaches us to wait on God because His timing always is perfect, and His plan is much better than we could ever imagine. How do I react while I’m waiting on God? Am I peaceful? Patient? Do I experience despair? Am I confused? Do I accept God’s timetable?
God used Joseph’s first 30 years of life to prepare him for this amazing leadership position in Egypt. God also uses all of my life’s circumstances to prepare me for His plan and purpose in my life. What circumstances is God using right now to mold me and grow me? What test is He using to refine my character?
Here is Avery’s verse-o’-the week:
Genesis 39:23 NIV