Genesis 41 -- Watching God At Work

Joseph had patiently waited on God and had lived an exemplary life in Egypt and now God was ready to act.  He gave Pharaoh two dreams, stifled any ability of Pharaoh’s wise men to interpret them, reminded the cupbearer about Joseph, and led Pharaoh to call for this 30-year-old Hebrew prisoner.  He then enabled Joseph to know the meaning of the dreams, and Joseph was able to show Pharaoh how important this divine appointment really was.  “God had shown the ruler of Egypt what He planned to do for the next 14 years, and Pharaoh was conscious of this fact.  Now that he knew God’s plan, Pharaoh was obligated to do what God wanted him to do.”  That is something I have discovered about what God has shared with me over especially the last 13 years.

God then moved Pharaoh to choose Joseph to lead and empowered Joseph to carry out a plan to save the lives of many people during the famine.  He was also given an Egyptian wife, who bore him two sons, and in naming the first one, “He was enabled by God’s grace to wipe out the pains and bad memories of the past and make a new beginning,” my commentary said.  He knew by this time that events would bring his family to Egypt and he’d have to confront his brothers.  “He wanted his own heart to be clean and right before God so that he could be a blessing to them just as he’d been a blessing wherever God had placed him.”  In naming his second son, he used a term meaning “fruitful”.  My commentary concluded, “It’s a wonderful thing when we can come through times of trial with the kind of attitude Joseph had, burying past hurts and rejoicing in present blessings, being forgetful and fruitful at the same time.”

Father, thank You for Your perfect timing again.  Help me to be forgetful and fruitful – to be a blessing wherever I am.  Let others see You at work in my life, despite hardships.  Allow me to be a channel for You to bless others.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford