Time in an Egyptian Jail
Daily Reading: Genesis 41, Psalm 41, Mark 13, Proverbs 10
“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:28-41
Rough stretch for Joseph.
First, his brothers sell him into slavery. Then, as Joseph continues to follow God and walk in integrity, he gets falsely accused by Pharaoh’s wife of improper behavior and is thrown in jail.
Two additional years pass before eventually we get to today’s story.
When we read accounts like Joseph’s in the Bible over just a couple of short chapters, it is easy to see God’s hand at work, turning evil into good. We can see the challenges immediately followed by God’s provision.
Reading this story takes a few short minutes.
For Joseph, this took place over multiple long years.
I like to think about the story of Joseph when going through challenging stretches in my own life.
There are times where it can just feel like one thing after another.
A child hospitalized, a car accident, an unforeseen home repair you haven’t budgeted for, stressful changes at work, people in your life treating you really poorly despite everything you have done for them in their lives.
The list seems to go on…and on…and on over the course of multiple years.
However, much like Joseph, I have also seen more times than I can remember examples of God’s plan at work in my life and the lives of so many people around me, immediately following these times of trial.
I have always believed that times in our lives when we are on the verge of doing something great for the kingdom of God, are the times when Satan is most likely to attack. Sometimes these challenges we face are a reminder that we have a very real enemy that is on the prowl seeking to disrupt God’s work. We live in a broken and fallen world.
There are also instances where the challenges are actually from God, because he has a grand plan in place to use these circumstances in our lives for good.
And then sometimes, these challenges in our life are self-inflicted wounds from poor choices we have made in our lives.
I used to really wrestle with trying to figure out why things were happening. I wanted to get to the bottom of whether this was my fault, Satan on the prowl, or this was a God ordained challenge that he intended to use for good.
It was exhausting, and the truth is, impossible to ever truly know.
Instead, I now try to remember Joseph.
Regardless of the reason for the trials we go through, God is still faithful when we turn to him. Whatever is happening in our life, God has the power to redeem for good on a long enough timeline.
As human beings, we like to read stories in minutes. For God, the story is eternal.
So, next time you are going through your “Joseph period”, cling to the promise that God made in Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Joseph was called for a purpose, and it took several long winding years to see that vision come to reality.
God may not work as quickly as we would like him to at times, but he is always there when we fix our eyes on him and seek his will in our lives instead of our own.
Daily Reflection & Dialogue
When in your life can you look back now and see challenges that God has used for good, whether in your life or in your ability to minister to others?
