Then, I read about Joseph in the ending chapters of Genesis. Wrongly accused numerous times over the years, his story unfolds with an almost fairy tale ending blessed with a life "above what he could dare think or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20) Journey with me through the perils of Joseph, the man "God sent ahead to preserve life." (Genesis 45:7)
As we know the story begins with a young Joseph, his father's favorite, who we have to believe was either very boastful because of pride or simply because he used no wisdom. Scripture does not tell us which, but we do know the younger son was envied by his older brothers so much, in fact, they sold him into slavery. That is, after they abandoned their original plan to murder him. Off goes the boy at the age of seventeen to Egypt into a life of slavery, sold by his brothers for 20 shekels of silver. The merchants, then sold, the young man to Potipher, an official of Pharaoh.
Joseph thrived in Potipher's house! Genesis 39 recounts, "the Lord gave him success in everything he did" and Potipher soon realized "the blessing of the Lord was on everything [Potipher] had, both in the house and in the field." Now we have Joseph at the top of his game. He was second only to Potipher. Then, comes another fall. Potipher's wife fixed her eyes on the "well-built and handsome" young man, but her sexual advances were squashed by Joseph. Potipher's wife clearly had a problem with rejection. She retaliated with an accusation of rape, thus landing the top man in prison, back to a life of bondage. Starting over, again.
As history repeats itself, the Lord was with Joseph even in prison and soon the wrongfully accused became in charge second only to the warden. Again, he found favor and "the Lord gave him success in whatever he did." Now, Joseph had two cell mates, both prisoners of Pharaoh, and both had a bizarre dream on the same night. The prophetic dreams were interpreted by Joseph. One of the cell mates was hanged, as prophesied in his dream, the other was restored to his position in Pharaoh's house just as the Lord revealed. The latter promised to remember Joseph, but it was two years before he did so.
The cell mate with the memory lapse was Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and was present the morning Pharaoh called for his magicians and seers to interpret two distressing dreams he had the night before. Finally, the aha! moment for the cupbearer. He remembers Joseph and Pharaoh calls for the man who would soon be in charge of all of Egypt. I'm sure you see where this is going. Once again, Joseph found favor and was promoted to the head of the class. God not only showed Joseph the meaning of the dreams, He also gave Him wisdom. He gave his servant, the plan that would "save many lives" inspite of the dreadful famine. Something of note: It was two years before Pharaoh had a dream that needed interpreting. If the cupbearer had remembered Joseph sooner it is not likely Joseph's life would have changed. The dreams had to come first because they foretold the plight of Egypt. These were a revelation of God's plan of seven years of prosperity and sevens years of famine. Again, it's a timetable thing. It's all about God's perfect timing.
As the story goes, Joseph is reunited with his brothers and father who have to come to the land of Egypt for food because of the severe famine in the land. So, you see from the time the boy was sold into slavery, over the course of at least fifteen years or more, Joseph had several starts and stops. Each time he prospered, but then found himself at the bottom. However, what I find encouraging about this story is that Joseph did not fall backwards. Each time, even though it seems he started over, he was actually promoted to a higher position. He soared higher, he stumbled forward! Joseph wasn't demoted...he was repositioned until finally, he was more powerful than all of those who betrayed him, those who wrongfully accused him, and those who forgot him.
The moral of the story? God "works all things together for the good of those who love Him" AND He takes "what is meant for harm and turns it around for our good," for our growth, for our promotion. (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20)
I'm not starting over; I'm just getting repositioned! Oh how He loves us!
Proverbs 16:9, "A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure."
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