“Until the time that His word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” Psalm 105:19
Dear Ones:
The story of Joseph, as told in the book of Genesis, is a remarkable picture of how God’s ways are unique, and will have their accomplishment only IN HIS TIME. Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (3:1) To put this phrase in its context, we need to ask the question: “Who created and maintains the seasons, and Whose divine purpose is established in time and eternity?” The answer is simply…God, who alone has the power, authority, and wisdom to accomplish that Divine will and purpose. Throughout the life of Joseph we see the sovereign hand of God working quietly, God revealing Himself to Joseph, and working in circumstances, to form this man into what he needed to be, in order that the purpose of God, to save thousands and thousands of lives, would be realized. One thing that is essential to see in God’s actions is that He did everything IN HIS TIME. After Joseph had been sold into Egypt as a slave, worked and served in Potiphar’s house, only to be unjustly accused and end up in prison, we see that God would use the element of time, and that of His timing, to bring forth a faith-filled servant, who would do His will. Before Joseph was sold into Egypt, God gave him several dreams. It is very possible that Joseph was able to “keep faith” in God, while being a slave, because of the revelation of God to his heart, according to these dreams, and perhaps others. Remember, Joseph had no Bible. The dreams given by God would serve as promises to him. At least two years before he was released from prison, two other prisoners, over whom he had the responsibility to care for, had dreams. Joseph was able to accurately interpret these dreams, as he most certainly depended upon God to do so. Despite the fact that one of the prisoners was released according to his dream, he did not remember Joseph for at least two years. God left Joseph in that prison to take care of other prisoners for two “full years.” It was only after this period, that Pharaoh would have a dream, and learn that Joseph could interpret dreams. What was the purpose of leaving Joseph in prison? It was so that his dependence would be totally in God, and not in himself or others. When Joseph was brought before Pharaoh, he told Joseph: “I heard it say of you, that you can understand a dream to interpret it.” (Gen. 41:16) It would be then that Joseph would answer: “It is NOT in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” (v. 17) Here is a man, revealed as a beloved son, then sold by his brothers to be a slave in Egypt, who suffered for innocently doing that which was right, put in prison, and left there with only one hope. Even though God would give him the gift of interpreting dreams that God gave individuals, Joseph’s hope would reside to some extent in himself. But after “two full years” of hoping in the efforts of someone he had helped, he was forced to rely ONLY upon God. “Everything in its time…God’s time.” God’s purposes are truly realized in and through us when we also are brought to the place of total reliance upon God for everything, great and small. In His time, by His working, He is ever is bringing us into a deeper fellowship with Himself.
Dear Father, Just as the Lord Jesus is the author and finisher of faith, so He is the same with respect to time. Give us grace to trust You fully for the accomplishment of Your work in and through us, in Your time, for you will never fail us, nor forsake us. We praise and thank You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad