Saturday, December 7, 2024
Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36
Joseph had two dreams that got him in trouble. One was eleven sheaves of wheat bowing down to his, and the other was the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him. In his immaturity, he announced these dreams to the entire family, who correctly interpreted the dreams as Joseph ruling over them in the future. The brothers were jealous and began to plot against him.
His brothers sold Joseph into slavery, but eventually he ended up in a position of trust in Pharoah’s court. A false accusation of sexual assault sent Joseph to prison. God blessed Joseph in prison, and he rose to be over the affairs of the prison. Joseph learned to speak the Egyptian language and the policies and procedures of the Egyptian government, good preparation for his later work.
In prison, Joseph interpreted accurately the dreams of two officials of the Pharoah. These officials remembered Joseph years later when the Pharoah had a couple of disturbing dreams. Joseph was asked to interpret these dreams, which anticipated seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. God blessed Joseph, and Pharoah placed Joseph in charge over the storage of grains in Egypt. Joseph had spent multiple years ripped away from his family and in slavery and prison. Joseph learned to listen and obey through his sufferings.
During the time of famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him so he told them who he was to see if their hearts had changed. Then comes one of the most dramatic, redemptive scenes in all of scripture, which no playwright could have ever imagined. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and says, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Where could he have learned that God’s purpose transcends all evil circumstances than through his own suffering and the dreams God gave him at the age of 17? Joseph now interpreted those tragic events as God sending him ahead so he could save the whole family and the future nation of Israel. While Joseph was not in the direct lineage of Jesus, there would have been no lineage without Joseph. Through those early dreams, Joseph trusted that God had purpose that transcended his sufferings. Life brings suffering to us all. Joseph’s story has given me strength through my experience of Vietnam, the death of my first wife at age 40, and my son having a brain tumor when he was eight years old. Joseph inspires us to trust God’s living presence with us through our sufferings and beyond.
Larry Glover-Wetherington currently directs the ministry of Companions along the Way in our church. His son just celebrated his 50th birthday.