There’s an interesting story in Genesis 41 — a story about Joseph in the middle of a bigger story about Joseph, if you will.
In the bigger story, Joseph has been left for dead, sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and falsely imprisoned. It’s fair to say that he felt just a tad bit forgotten by God, or at the very least, that if the dreams he had were going to come true, he’d need to be the one to make it happen.
And yet, that was never Joseph’s response. In every situation that he found himself — from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows — his response was always the same: steadfast obedience to and unwavering trust in God.
All of this brings us to the story within the story. Two prisoners had dreams which Joseph interpreted for them, and they both came true. One was released, one executed.
Now, it’s two years later.
One hundred and four more weeks of being forgotten.
Seven hundred and thirty more days filled with stale prison air.
Seven hundred and thirty more nights filled with quiet questions.
Can you imagine all that Joseph could have been feeling in that moment? The grief of lost time and lost opportunity? The sting of betrayal and abandonment? The hopelessness of being stuck?
But then, the most powerful man in the nation had a dream, and the ex-con who had been set free two years earlier suddenly remembered Joseph. A quick shave and wardrobe change later, this betrayed and forgotten man stood before a king, and was given an opportunity by that king.
Pharaoh had heard that whenever Joseph heard a dream, he could interpret it. No mention of God, even though Joseph had clearly told his fellow prisoners that only God could interpret dreams. But this powerful man who was offering Jospeh a way out of the shadows had no need of a God, and I’m not sure that I’d blame Joseph for feeling the same way. After all, where was God in the pit, or the courtroom, or the prison?
God often brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can begin to see all of who He is. Click To TweetDecades earlier, perhaps the teenage version of Joseph believed that he could make happen what God had promised? But now, the wiser Joseph recognized that God often brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can begin to see all of who He is.
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Genesis 41:16 NIV, emphasis mine)
“God will.” He will do what we cannot. His will is greater than my can’t, and Joseph understood that. No more relying on his wisdom or strength or ingenuity or insight. Nope. His chips were all in on God’s ability, not his.
“I can’t, but God will.”
God will heal.
God will save.
God will deliver.
God will rescue.
God will redeem.
God will restore.
God will.
