Saturday, January 21
A God story
Scripture: Genesis 41-42, Psalm 10, Luke 21
Genesis 41:16 Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.”
Genesis 41:32 The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.
Observation
When Pharaoh told Joseph, “I hear you can interpret dreams,” Joseph quickly demurred and pointed Pharaoh to God. “It is not within my power, but God will speak, God will answer.”
Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and reiterated, “God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.” (v. 25) And “God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.” (v. 28) And “the matter has been decreed by God and God will make it happen soon.”
Joseph repeatedly pointed Pharaoh to God, not himself. God speaks, reveals, shows, decrees and makes it happen.
Consequently, Pharaoh appointed Joseph second-in-command, reasoning that no one was as wise or capable as Joseph since “God has enabled you to know all this.” (v. 39)
Application
Joseph’s story is a God story. Joseph’s remarkable rise from slave to prisoner to prime minister was because God was with him and God was working.
In reality, Joseph was neither the primary cause of his misfortune—that was his brothers’ and Potiphar’s wife’s doing. Nor was Joseph the primary cause of his good fortune—that was God’s doing. Joseph’s part was to maintain his faith and integrity through all the ups and downs. He was the same man in slavery, in prison or in power—trusting God to be at work.
My life too is a God story—not nearly as dramatic as Joseph’s, but a story of God at work through the ups and downs. Like Joseph, I can’t take all the blame for the downs (although I certainly have my share), nor can I take the credit for the ups, for God has been good to me, far more than I could ever deserve.
Today, I will look for where God is at work in my life. And even if I don’t see anything (like Joseph must have felt in slavery or prison), trust that God is working and in due time I’ll see it.
Prayer: I love you Lord, and I ask you to do for me what you did for Joseph: speak, answer, reveal, show, decree and make it happen. Work in my life—make it a God story.