Imagine waiting. I don’t mean one to two days or even a week or year, but decades. Imagine having the vision of where your going but not knowing how to get there. Or worse, seeing yourself going in the seemingly opposite direction.
That is the story of Joseph’s life. At seventeen years old he was given a dream, which he shared with the wrong people at the wrong time. The dream was of his brothers bowing down to him. His dream sharing quickly propelled Joseph to being sold into slavery. Yet, he excelled even in slavery. Until someone lied about him, then Joseph was thrown into jail. That is where we find Joseph in Genesis 40 and 41.
He meets two guys, a cupbearer and a baker. At the time, their interaction seemed little to with Joseph’s dream. But you never know who will help propel you into destiny, or in Joseph’s case how long you will wait after meeting them. Joseph interpreted dreams for both men. One died, the other was restored to his position. Joseph asked of him, “please don’t forget me.”
Two years passed and Joseph remained in prison. Things were going favorably, but still it can only be so good when you’re sitting in prison for something you didn’t even do. Yet Joseph maintained a favorable attitude and his trust in God during the waiting. He kept working, and was patient, and stayed the course, even when things didn’t go as he planned or envisioned.
Then two years after the cupbearer was restored he remembers Joseph when Pharaoh has a dream and no one can interpret it. Joseph is taken from prison, cleaned up, and brought into Pharaoh to hear Pharaoh’s dream .
Joseph’s response shows his trust is in God alone. “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” Genesis 41:16
Joseph listened to the dream and interpreted it for Pharaoh. He gave a suggestion for the pending famine. Then Pharoah appointed him to oversee the plan. Joseph went from prison to purpose and destiny in a matter of a few hours. However, let’s not forget about that waiting.
I love when things happen suddenly. If we just knew that part of Joseph’s story (verses 14-44) we could focus on the suddenly. Usually when it appears that something happened quickly, it is because we don’t know the story of the long wait leading up to suddenly.
So what can we take away from Joseph’s story in the midst of our own waiting?
- Keep trusting God regardless of your surroundings. If He gave you the dream He will equip you to fulfill it.
- You may have to help several people with their dreams before God attends to your dream.
- Your never know who those someones will be or where you will meet that will connect you to your dreams .
- God is watching you in the waiting. He hasn’t forgotten you. He can even give you favor in the waiting.
- When the time is right, your dreams can happen suddenly.
- Other people’s future will be tied to your dreams.
The story of Joseph’s life is one of waiting. He was faithful to God throughout the wait. We too can trust God in the wait for our dream. It is up to us to decide if we are willing to do what it takes to see God make our dreams come true. And to decide if we will continue to trust in the waiting.
This blog is part of a #Write31Days series on trust. 31 Days is an online writing challenge, where bloggers pick one topic and write a post on that topic every day.
Restoring Voice 