| Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages: | ||||||
| 1 Peter 4 | 1 Peter 5 | Genesis 41 | Genesis 42 | Psalms 18 | ||
Chapters 41 & 42 bring the saga of Joseph near its conclusion, though there is more yet to transpire. In these two chapters, though, we begin to see God's purpose behind the seeming random events in Joseph's life. Finally his life is no longer spiraling downward from one bad experience to another but instead takes an upward turn. Though two years had transpired since he interpreted the dreams for the two servants of Pharoah who had been sent to prison, the servant who had been returned to Pharoah's service, as Joseph predicted, finally remembered what Joseph had done for him.
One night Pharoah had two rather unusual dreams that troubled him once he awoke the next morning. He sent for his magicians and wise men, but none could interpret the dreams for him. Finally, Pharoah's chief cupbearer remembered what Joseph had done for him and told Pharoah. Pharoah sent for him and Joseph successfully interpreted his dreams. But Joseph was clear, "I am not able to," he told Pharaoh concerning his ability to interpret dreams. But he went on to say, "It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." (41:16) Joseph told Pharaoh that his two dreams meant the same thing, 7 years of abundance were coming followed by 7 years of famine. Joseph advised him to find a wise man who could guide the nation to use the years of abundance to prepare for the years of famine. Pharoah did not consider this long before appointing Joseph to be that wise man, making him second in command to himself over the whole nation. What a jump! From prison to 2nd in command!
We learn from this whole account how God can guide the affairs of men to accomplish great things and fulfill His own purposes. But we are prone to think God no longer works though individuals as He did then. Could this not be in large part because we do not look beyond the seeming randomness of the events of our own lives to recognize God's hand in them? It could also be that we have not been as cooperative with God as Joseph was throughout the seeming randomness of our lives. Rather than giving every situation, whether good or bad, our best and treating it as if it were from God, we may get caught up in pitying ourselves and slinging accusations at God for the bad stuff that happens.
With every bad experience life threw at Joseph, God gave him a whole new set of options from which to choose. It was up to Joseph to make good choices from the options presented to him. This he did, cooperating with what God was doing and allowing God to bring about the outcome toward which He was directing Joseph. While the credit for this outcome should go to God, we should not overlook the important role Joseph played in it. He could have chosen differently at any point along the way and changed the outcome - at least for him - and not have been the one God used for His purposes.
When we continually seek God and filter all events in our lives through the lens of His purpose for us, those seeming random events begin to take on new meaning. Every event in our lives, whether it presents good things or troubling things, sets before us a new set of options, and with these new options we are given the opportunity to change the course of our lives, either for good or for bad. Our choices can use the options presented to us to turn a bad experience into a good one, as was the case for Joseph. Or we can choose less wisely and turn good events into bad outcomes. God never forces us, always honoring our freedom of choice. But with that freedom comes great responsibility.
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