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The Joseph Process: In the Presence of Pharaoh.
By Janine Scott-Lowe, MD
Genesis 41:1: One night, TWO YEARS LATER, Pharaoh dreamed...
Genesis 41:9: Then the king's wine taster spoke up.
Genesis 41:14: Pharaoh sent at once for Joseph.
Genesis 41:37: Joseph's suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his assistants.
Genesis 41:38-40: As they discussed who should be appointed for the job, Pharaoh said, "Who could do it better than Joseph? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the Spirit of God." Turning to Joseph, Pharaoh said to him, "Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, you are the wisest man in the country! I am hereby appointing you to be in charge of this entire project. What you say goes, throughout all the land of Egypt. I alone will outrank you."
Now look at Joseph! What a turn of events! One minute in prison, the next in the presence of Pharaoh, the highest ranking official in the land. What happened to bring him to this place? More dreams. This time, it was Pharaoh's. He didn't know what they meant and asked those around him to help him, and they couldn't. But there was one man, Pharaoh's wine taster, who remembered a man, Joseph, who he was in prison with him two years prior. Let me say again...it has been TWO YEARS since Joseph asked the wine taster to remember him to Pharaoh and ask him to let Joseph out of prison (see Genesis 40:14), but the wine taster "promply forgot all about Joseph, never giving him a thought." (Genesis 40:23) Well, after two years and a similar circumstance, the wine taster's thoughts again returned to Joseph, and he fulfilled his promise to bring Joseph before Pharaoh. Joseph comes, is able to interpret the dream, and the rest, as they say, "is history."
What should we learn from this Scripture? I see some exciting lesson for us to remember today. First, we must learn to treat people well, whoever they are, and in whatever circumstance we may find ourselves.. Look at what Joseph did for the wine taster. They were BOTH in PRISON when they met. Joseph had been there longer than the taster, so he could have not reached out to him and been bitter because of his circumstance, but he wasn't. The taster NEEDED him, and Joseph HELPED him, just by using the gift that God gave him. What I love is that each time Joseph interpreted a dream, he did not take the credit for himself. No, he made sure everyone knew that his gift was not his alone, but was given to him by God. God gave the interpretation and simply used Joseph to tell them the meaning (Genesis 40:8 and Genesis 41:16). What HUMILITY! When good things happen because of something we may have done, it might be so tempting to want to take the credit for ourselves. But, we must remember that every good and perfect gift COMES FROM OUR GOD ABOVE. We, in ourselves, are NOT worthy! Just the fact that He CHOOSES to use such unworthy vessels as ourselves is so AMAZING! We must always remember to give God the praise for the good in our lives. We must also remember that He is a JEALOUS God--He will share His glory with NO one. Let's be careful to not have any other gods before Him, INCLUDING OURSELVES.
Also, look at the TIME FACTOR here. It was TWO YEARS from the time Jospeh interpreted the wine taster's dream until Pharaoh had a dream. But even moreso, consider the amount of time it has been since Joseph received his own original dream/promise; before eveything happened when he was thrown into the pit, sent to Potiphar's house, and then to prison? This reminds me that we have to be PATIENT in the fulfillment of our promises. We don't know God's timing, but we know His timing is always RIGHT. What He has said WILL come to pass, but it is up to HIM to determine when that will be. He can do it instantaneously (don't you love those "suddenly moments?"), or He may allow time to pass (usually to teach us lessons that we need to learn), but, EITHER WAY, God's purposes WILL prevail and WILL be done!
Let us be PATIENT for the fulfillment of our dreams, because when they are, it will be MORE THAN WORTH THE WAIT and all of the circumstances that we had to go through to get there. My encouragement to you today is to HOLD ON TO YOUR PROMISES. TREAT PEOPLE WELL, and SHARE YOURSELF AND YOUR GIFTS WITH THEM to HELP them along their way. As you BLESS THEM, YOU will see that God will BLESS YOU as well. Be encouraged, your turn before Pharaoh WILL come!
Hebrews 6:11-12: And we are anxious that you KEEP RIGHT ON LOVING OTHERS as long as life lasts, so that you will get your FULL REWARD. Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you don't become bored with being a Christian, nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive ALL that God has PROMISED them BECAUSE OF THEIR STRONG FAITH AND PATIENCE.
God Bless!
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