The Bible story of Joseph’s life is a highlight of the Old Testament. It tells the story of an ordinary man who responds with such grace, patience and humility despite so much evil that was done to him. Here is a young person who believes God has something really big and special for him. Then, he gets dumped into a well to die, sold into slavery, falsely lied about, and thrown into prison for who knows how long. His life at this point appears like such a waste! So much for having an important calling in life, right? Sometimes we may feel the same way, but God is still writing the story of our lives and the story is not finished!
Joseph doesn’t sit and wallow in self-pity like I might have. He finds a purpose where he is placed. In jail, he proves himself worthy to be made in charge of all the other prisoners. He even seeks God on behalf of perplexed prisoners with dreams. The first dream interpreted is really good news. Within three days this prisoner will be released and given his job back in the palace. I can just imagine the next prisoner going, “Hey, I had a dream too. Will you interpret it for me too?” He was probably wishing for good news, but his dream was a soon-to-come death sentence. I can just see Joseph finishing that interpretation and looking around the room saying, “Anyone else want their dream interpreted?” I guess no one bothered him for a while after that!
Joseph probably thought this first prisoner’s freedom was his ticket out of jail too, but wrong again! The guy completely forgot about him. Do you ever do something for someone and then, expecting to be remembered when you need help, feel abandoned? That’s not fair! In fact, a life of such experiences could make someone justifiably cynical towards people in general, but not Joseph. He never uses his past to excuse his attitude for the present, and neither should I! So what if I was treated unfairly in my past! Joseph’s story teaches me that is no reason to be hindered in the now.
So, the king has a dream and this time Joseph is remembered. Why did God wait so long to rescue Joseph? Sometimes I wonder that about myself too: if God can fix this situation right now, why doesn’t He do it now? I have to remember that God is the author of time and sees a bigger picture. Our lives are a part of a bigger plan, and God knows what he is doing. ”You mean I have to just wait around and just trust God in this time?” Sometimes, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
Joseph has developed some real character by now! He’s learned a lot of patience and trust in God during his whole life, most of which has been a series of bad events. He probably at least once asked God, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” It is easy to see the end of the story of Joseph and say, “God works all things together for good.” But, can we have the faith to trust that God will do that with my life too?
