Day 13: Genesis 40-42

Day 13: Genesis 40-42

All I have to do, is dream

The story of Joseph begins with a dream, and now we return to dreams. To this point we have heard Joseph’s dream that his brothers would bow down to him. This oddity made his brothers angry, thus leading to his bondage into slavery, and jail.

In today’s passage we are with Joseph in jail. The Pharaoh sends two others to be with Joseph in jail: a cupbearer and baker. Both of these men dream about their outcome, and both of them receive interpretation from Joseph. Joseph’s interpretations are correct and the cupbearer is returned to his station while the baker is killed.

Two years pass, the Pharaoh has two similar dreams in one night. The cupbearer, finally remembering what Joseph had done, tells the Pharaoh that there is a man that can interpret these dreams. Seeking out Joseph from jail, Pharaoh tells his dreams and Joseph provides insight about the future of Egypt, including famine.

Pharaoh, finding Joseph’s interpretation insightful if not utterly disturbing, charges Joseph with organizing the land to survive the famine to come. Joseph rises to power in Egypt, and his brothers, unaware that the powerful one is their brother, come and bow down to Joseph, just as in his dream.

I wonder how often we act like Joseph’s brothers. We are warned of something that is to come, something we may not like. Thinking we can change the path ahead we act. We forget that God continues to work in our lives no matter what we do. Now, I do not believe in predestination, which I feel this story almost alludes to, but I do believe that God works through everything in our lives. And when God is at work, there is no stopping forward movement.

So today, what is it that you are trying to overthrow? Don’t get me wrong. I do believe that there are things that we need to do to change our paths for the better, for nothing is written in stone. But we must realize that no matter what we do, God is there, working.

Young and Mighty

At this time, a 30-year old having power is as odd as a 10 year-old having power. Consider the Biblical story thus far. Abraham was over 90 before he had children. Noah was on the boat for 600 years before something changed. Yet Joseph, at the age of 30, is given tremendous power.

Even in today’s society we do not always value those considered young. The idea of a 30 year-old CEO or Senior Pastor is the exception and not the rule. In this story, however, we see the power of nations resting on the shoulders of someone many would deem as not experienced enough. And that is not even considering that Joseph has spent at least the last two years in jail.

Look around you at work, in the community and at home. Who are the “young” people who are the future leaders, or current leaders, in your life? Do you value them? Or, like Joseph’s brothers, do you laugh at the fact that someday you may bow down to them?