As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50: 20, NASB.
Our Father, we wait on You to make our dreams come true. Grant that as we study, we will realize that one of these days, it will all make sense, if not here and now, in the light of eternity! In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
Joseph is witnessing the fulfillment of his dream. Our study for the past three days have been leading up to this moment. We read in Scripture, “Now Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, . . . Although Joseph had recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them . . .” (42: 6, NRSV, emphasis provided).
Here was Joseph’s brothers in his presence, fulfilling his dream, and not even knowing it! Who would have imagined? Their little pampered brother, is the second in Egypt! But dear friends, it goes even deeper than that, it is not only his brothers that will bow the knee to Joseph. The entire land of Egypt will bow before him, by order of the king. But above and beyond, Pharaoh, they will bow their knee before him, by order of the King of kings – the Sovereign God! Hallelujah! We must not forget who gave Joseph his dream! Listen to the words of Pharaoh:
“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.’ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, ‘Bow the knee!’ ‘Bow the knee!’ Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.” Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt’ ” (41: 39-44, NRSV, emphasis provided).
God had done for Joseph all that He promised him, and then so much more! “Only in the throne,” would Pharaoh be above him! From the pit to the pinnacle! That was the magnitude of the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream. Now it all began to make sense to Joseph. He was approximately seventeen years old when his world began to crumble. God was re-building his world, to make space for the enormity of his dream. You see, friends, it was God’s dream that was being realized in the life of Joseph! And if the heaven of heavens cannot contain the Almighty God; how much less, the limited circumstances of a human life! So God had to break down and re-build his life, to make it big enough to contain the fulfillment of the dream that He had given him. It took him approximately thirteen years, to get to this moment, but the results far outweighed the time of waiting!
A word of caution to all: Do not try to re-build, on your own, the walls that God may be breaking down. You might limit God’s dream for your life. If at times you do not understand what is going on, it is okay to tell the LORD that you do not understand. Then stand back and see the “salvation of the LORD!” I can see Joseph mentally re-winding his life: “Oh, that is why I had to leave home!” “Now I understand why I was put in prison!” “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result.” The bigger the dream(s), the greater might be the work of reconstruction. Dear friends, whatever you are going through today, “When your dream comes true, it will all make sense!” So do not give up your dream!
NOTE: Some editing was done to yesterday’s devotional.