“He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door. Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s adviser’s” Psalms 105:16-22 NLT.
The part I want to focus on is verse 19: Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
Now I know we all know all our bible stories, but for those of us that missed a couple days at Sunday school, I just want to tell you a bit about Joseph.
Joseph was a dreamer. God gave Him the gift of dreams and their interpretations. One such dream is in Genesis 37:9-11: “Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.”
Now Joseph’s brothers were sick and tired of all this dreaming Joseph was doing, and so they plotted to sell him into slavery. Also, Joseph was their fathers favorite. So much so that his father made him a coat of many colors. Anyways, his brothers sold him into slavery, stole his coat, dipped it in an animals blood, went home and told their dad that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
But, this was a set up.
In fact, it was one of many setups that God used to get Joseph into position for the fulfillment of the dream that He had given him. There are haters in every family, and Joseph’s brothers thought they were doing something by getting rid of him. They thought they killed the dream but didn’t realize where the dream came from (God, and who can stop a word or promise from Him?).
So Joseph gets to Egypt, quickly finds favor, and winds up running things in his master’s house. Then his master’s wife decides to shoot her shot, and Joseph ran from her. Shorty lied on him, and Joseph gets thrown into prison. This too was a set up that God used to get Joseph into place.
While in prison, Joseph meets two prisoners and interprets their dreams. One had a favorable outcome, the other not so much. The one who had a favorable outcome forgot about Joseph when he got out of prison, but God didn’t forget. It just wasn’t time yet. The stage hadn’t been set yet. The problem that God gave Joseph the solution to hadn’t arisen yet. I don’t know who this is for, but you thought God forgot about you…but it’s just not time yet. The stage is still being set.
Two years after ‘ole boy gets out, the Pharaoh has dreams that nobody can interpret. And homeboy who is Pharoh’s cupbearer finally remembers Joseph. They bring Joseph to the Pharaoh, he interprets the dream and provides the solution. Genesis 41:37-40 says: “Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.””
What I love is, God wasn’t finished yet.
The dream still had to be fulfilled.
When a famine hit, guess who’s brothers had to come and see the man in charge and bow? (like Joseph had seen in his dream all those years ago) And guess who God had set up and put in place to provide for their every need? Genesis 50:20 says: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
Yes God tested Joseph along the way, but it was all a set up so that God’s ordained purpose and the God-given dream would be fulfilled.
From the pit, to a lil bit of power, to the prison, to the palace, to his purpose.
You’ve been crying because it hurts, but I need you to not give up because it’s all just a set up to get you to where God is bringing you. There are people depending on you to fulfill your purpose. Joseph knew this too because Genesis 45:7 says this: “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.”
So even if you’ve been betrayed, sold out, lied on, or forgotten, know that it’s all just a set up. God will get you to where you need to be. Don’t give up, we’re depending on you to fulfill the dream.
Amen.
I write and share these devotionals every other Sunday, on WBRU. Be sure to tune in during their Sunday morning gospel segment to hear them.
Stylishly Yours,
Theresa Seyi
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