Hello everyone!
Today I read Genesis 38-40.
Now, last time we left off with Joseph's story, but today's reading begins with Judah, one of Joseph's brothers. Since I actually did a post on part of chapter 38, I won't revisit it. You can read the other post if you want.
The next chapter takes us directly into Joseph's life, where he is serving Potiphar. He has been put in charge of the whole of Potiphar's household, and prospered greatly.
But Potiphar's wife is about to mess it all up. She wants Joseph to sleep with her (and you thought the Bible was boring!) but he refuses.
Several times.
Well, the last time, she grabs onto him, and he escapes, but leaves his coat behind.
These coats keep getting Joseph into trouble.
Potiphar's wife screams and accuses Joseph of trying to attack her. He denies it, but Potiphar is so angered at the thought of the betrayal that he throws Joseph into jail.
Which, as it turns out, is where God needs him right now.
Isn't it amazing how God always puts us where we are needed, even if it's not what we originally planned, or somewhere we would have originally chosen to go?
Joseph is faithful to God and His commands, so Joseph prospers in the jail and is put in charge of the prisoners, where he meets Pharaoh's chief baker and chief cupbearer.
They have dreams and need an interpreter.
And Joseph says something I really love.
Genesis 40:8 - ..."Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please."
He acknowledges that all of his dream interpreting skills come from God, and then asks them to tell him the dream to see if he can interpret it.
And God gives him the interpretation.
I love reading about the dreams that Joseph interprets. First, they are appealing to my imagination. The visual way they are written down makes my reader's mind happy. Second, they are all powerful dreams.
Powerful!
Sent from God, so that Joseph could gain favor to get where God needed him to be.
But more on that later.
I encourage you to read all of this for yourselves. I won't write the dreams out here, but they are all worth reading.
Basically, the chief cupbearer's dream means that he will be restored to his former position. But the chief baker's dream means that he will be killed.
And it all comes to pass as Joseph interprets.
Now, Joseph asks for one thing from the cupbearer in return for interpreting the dream, which is to remember him to Pharaoh.
But the cupbearer is so caught up in his happiness that he forgets about Joseph.
But God didn't.
The last verse of chapter 40, verse 23, says Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
And that sentence alone is enough to remind me that God does not forget about us.
Joseph went through a lot, but God was always with him. God used the bad to get Joseph where he needed to be. Joseph didn't go through all the bad things for nothing. God had a plan, and it was not a plan to harm Joseph. Rather, God prospers Joseph.
Joseph never loses heart. He always trusts God. And God rewards his faithfulness.
Sometimes it is difficult to believe that God remembers us. When we are stuck in the "dungeon" of our circumstances, it is easier to believe that God has forgotten about us than to believe that He has a plan even for what we are going through.
But He hasn't forgotten us.
And He has a plan. He always does.
Jeremiah 29:11 says 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'
I love this verse.
Along with this one:
Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
God plans to prosper us, to give us hope, to give us a future. To work even the baddest of bad things out for our good.
And all He asks of us? Love Him. Obey Him. Believe.
God hasn't forgotten you.
God has a plan for your life.
God will use the bad to prepare you for the good.
Trust Him. And don't stop believing.
Until tomorrow, my dear readers! I'll be reading Genesis 41-42.
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