God remembers you and His promise to you. He cannot forget.
We know that Joseph’s story began with a vision and ended with victory but first, after the vision came betrayal.
We know that life isn’t always easy and stories can get messy, but God can and wants to turn our messes into our ultimate triumph messages. His glory; our story!
Joseph remained faithful in his mess and never gave up on God or the vision. We know that if he had, we would have seen him give into Potiphar’s wife when she tried to seduce him. He didn’t have to keep his integrity, but he did. He was in a far away foreign land, who would have seen or known? God sees and knows everything. Jospeh lived to please God and we see that his loyalty was to Him. He probably could have gotten away with it in man’s eyes but eventually it would have caught up with him. Mind you, Potiphar had left all he had in Joseph’s charge and didn’t pay attention to what he was doing. It could have seemed like it could have been the perfect time to get away with this act, yet his heart and aim was to please God. He passed the test.
Joseph remembered not only where he came from, but I believe he remembered where he was going too. He could have remained stuck and hopeless and said what the heck, and became like those who he was around. But, he didn’t. Faithfulness will get you there, eventually. It’s in the waiting that God develops us and this determines our end.
Joseph must have always been looking at the long run and the end according to his test. He didn’t give in. He remained faithful and I truly believe it was because of the vision that God showed him and he believed would come at the end. He could have gotten mad when he was lied to about being remembered but we don’t see that. Eventually he got his turn and chance, which led him to his ultimate position for the end vision. God does not forget. His beginning mattered. His middle mattered. It’s what led him to the end! The story today is about his ending. He could have tried to lie, cheat and steal his way to the top but that was not his story, faithfulness was.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9
Endurance pays off - so endure till the end and be saved!
This whole time was a time of preparation, even though it seemed like punishment. I’m sure that in the end, when he got what he got, he wouldn’t have traded that time. We can all look back when God brings us far and see where He was there the whole time, even though we couldn’t dare see it at the time. Later we see His hand was always in it.
There has been times in most of our lives when it seemed like all hope was lost and God would never come through…. Just at the story of Job! But God did and even though we aren’t perfect and we all fall, we can remain faithful under pressure. When we’re under fire knowing we can trust that God is faithful and He will come through. If He told you or has shown you something , rest assured He will do it. Again and again. We can rest while we wait knowing that it is all in the hands of God. Everything that is left in His hands, will eventually work out for your good, His glory and it’s all part of your story.
If you know or have read the story it Joseph, you know that one day everything suddenly changed. The man that should have remembered Joseph in the middle of his story and didn’t, suddenly did! Two years later!!!! But it was for such a time as this. He wasn’t supposed to remember him then because it wasn’t Gods timing. Now this time two years later, this same man would put Joseph on the mind of the king.
It reminds me a lot of the story of Esther and Mordecai when the king couldn’t sleep and was up reading boring stuff and came across Mordecai’s name and remembered his good deed. The king wanted to suddenly bless him for what he had done some time back. He eventually give Mordecai the ring and the robe instead of the evil one who wanted it and tried to destroy Mordecai! The enemy knows that you’ve got the goods and the favor of God upon your life. Don’t let him blind you to it. God will put you on the mind of whoever He wants to and needs to, whenever He wants to on a seemingly random day, in order to get you where you need to be. All while flipping the plan of the enemy back on his head. You’ll take the position of what they didn’t think you should.
Things that once took years can change suddenly in a day. What takes years can lead to a 24 hour turn around. Just like the Israelites whom Joseph saved would eventually years later be led out of the bondage that they were in by Moses who came after him. It was all a set up from the very beginning and as you begin to read the Bible, you begin to put it all together and see that Gods hand and tracing was upon all of it the whole time. Moses went through a process to get God’s people out of Egypt, where God had sent them to Joseph to be saved years prior. Then suddenly one day, God said it was time and brought plagues to get them out, Moses led them and then God parted the Red Sea.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” Isaiah 60:22
At the right time, The Lord will make it all happen. You don’t have to. You just have to position yourself, remain faithful and be ready to receive.
God can do anything He wants to, anytime He wants to, with anyone He wants to! He doesn’t need anyone’s permission, He just needs your faith and obedience. He is not a man that He should lie. He is faithful. If He spoke it to you, He will also do it!
Now all the sudden one day after the man remembers Joseph and tells the king that he was able to interpret dreams, Joseph was made second in command under the king! From bondage to high ranking official. God give him insight to what was to come through Pharaohs dream and Joseph came up with a plan to store up food for future use.
Joseph was sold out for 13 years but he would go on to prosper and live his best life in a time of great need and famine. God can bless you and bring you into blessing in a time that doesn’t seem so favorable and makes no sense! He has a way of leaving everyone question and scratching their heads! All because one man was faithful in the messy middle. The middle is often the messiest and sometimes the greatest test come just before the greatest breakthroughs.
Joseph stored up food during the seven years of plenty that the dream spoke of. Joseph did his part in the good times when he could have forgotten because everything was so good! The Bible tells us that the seven very bad years that would follow up the seven very good, would be so bad they’d forget the seven good. Not Joseph! He didn’t forget. He again could have slacked in the good but instead he was gathering up MUCH food. He didn’t forget what was coming. He trusted God and took Him at His word! God is faithful and we can take Him at His word, trusting and believing that He is and so following Him.
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
You can prosper even when it doesn’t make sense if you prepare in the middle. Your leaf doesn’t have to wither just because of a bad or dry season if you’re planted in the Lord. Whatever you do can prosper! You can bear fruit EVEN IN A DROUGHT, in and out of season. He’s faithful in every single one.
David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. 1 Samuel 18:14 NLT (All because he behaved wisely.)
*******Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable. Genesis 41:49********
Pharaoh entrusted Joseph with the land of Egypt and positioned him right under his authority. But ultimately it is God Who gives kings seats and He also tears down. He puts you on the mind of who “He” wants to! The word tells us that the kings heart is in His hands and He turns it as He wills.
The king gave Joseph a wife and he also had 2 sons during the good seven years, all because of what he had to endure the previous 13 years. He was enslaved for almost the same amount of time as the good and bad 7 years! It was turn around time. Joseph was specific in naming his sons. He called the first born Manasseh which means “Making to forget!”
God blessed him so much that He made him forget all of his grief, pain, toil and hardship that he endured because of his brothers betrayal. Of course, I know I said that Joseph didn’t forget. He didn’t forget what God had done and he didn’t forget his part. He didn’t remember the pain anymore and his past because of all the joy, newness and gain that restoration had brought!
The second one he named Ephraim. Meaning “To be fruitful!” God caused him to be fruitful in the very place of pain. In the very place of affliction. In the very place of grief and slavery! All because God doesn’t forget!!! He gave him a vision early on at a young age and when God knew the time was right and appropriate, He gave him more than he lost! That’s the God of turn around and restoration and all along shaping and molding us into who He’s called us to be and to do. Maybe He’s called us for such a time as this.
Remember it’s not always what you do in the good years but in the lean years too. How faithful you are when nothing makes sense, and when all hope sense dried up and lost. You may be thinking what’s the use when God seems the most unfaithful and silent! Nothing could be further from the truth though. Again, He is preparing us for such a time as this.
Because Joseph had prepared MUCH for the seven years of scarcity, so he’d have plenty to eat and plenty to share! He’d have enough food supply to save his very own people who little did they know would have to come from afar to the foreign country they’d sold him into.
Joseph could have withheld from them, turned them away, harmed them or starved them out. He didn’t do any of these things. Shows who he is. Again, he was second in command. But instead he showed them mercy and grace, and he knew that it was for the saving of many and that it was supposed to be this way. God allowed his affliction and allowed him to be in a place of pain because He knew eventually He’d turn it into gain. He knew that Joseph would be faithful and that had a heart to please him, just as He knew Job did. That’s why he allowed Jo to go through what he went through, to show him that He was God and to give Him back double for his faithfulness!
It's not always what you feel or see but what you know! Job struggled, questioned and doubted God, but his faith kept him hanging on. In the end he was saved he had a different perspective on God and a new lot on life. All in one day.
The vision happened just as God showed Joseph that it would, and his brother’s bowed down to him. Again, God is not a man that he should lie if he gave you a vision or a promise, it will come to pass - in due time; God‘s time.
As his brothers came to him, they didn’t even know who he was. When this is all said and done, you’ll too, like Joseph, be unrecognizable! For when the hand of God has been upon you, you’re chanted and different.
Joseph saw his brothers . Remember, he was in a foreign land and so there was an interpreter speaking to them but they didn’t know that Joseph was there yet. They wouldn’t know or recognize him at first. While they were speaking, Joseph was listening to the remorse they shared about him. They knew this must be happening to them because of remembering what they did to him. Joseph turned away from them and wept.
After all that time and what they did, Joseph didn’t lose his faith or his heart. He still had a heart for God and a heart for the people. He loved his brothers though he was hurt. I’m sure he had a mix of all kinds of emotions but this proved that he never stopped loving them.
It all turned around for Joseph’s good just as God said He works all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Joseph did and Joseph was! Tables did turn (eventually) and Joseph used it for a time to help them instead of harming them. There’s more to the story, but eventually, Joseph would end up saying that “y’all meant it from my harm, but God meant it for my good, and for the saving of many!” He recognized that it had to be this way and that it wasn’t just for him, he was just a willing vessel. It was also for the saving and turning around of many!
Romans 8:28 assures us that God works all things out for the good of those who love him and recall, according to his purpose. This promise isn’t for just anyone, but for anyone who believer and who would choose to follow God because they love Him. He said “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” Joseph did and it paid great dividends!
So, no matter who has done what to you or what has happened to you, and no matter how unfair that it was - God sees, God knows and God takes note! HE CAN turn it around for your good. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above anything that we could ever even ask, think or imagine according to His power that is at work in us! (Ephesians 3:20) He can do the unimaginable and He can do what we could never do. He can blow our minds if He wants to. He uses the very weak things of this world to confound the wise. He will show Himself God Almighty in the end.
If we flip over to 1 Chronicles 5, we see that the birthright that belonged to the eldest of Jacob (Joseph’s father) as it should have been according to tradition or law, was handed down to Joseph’s sons. All because Joseph was faithful. What you do now, prepares you for what’s to come. You can prosper in a time that doesn’t make sense and God can give you insight into what’s to come just as He did to Joseph. Also, what you do or DON’T do now, will affect generations to come…..
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:16
Position yourself to receive the promises of God. Obedience and faithfulness is key. 🔑
God used Joseph and Esther both in a foreign place and He can use you right where you are for such a time as this.
We must have this attitude like Esther and Joseph or we won’t accomplish what God sends us to do! We are not alone. If God is for you, God is with you, and who or what can be against you in the end??? Whom or what shall we fear when He has promised to (EVENTUALLY) turn it all out for good?
I declare today that it’s turn around time for many!
He went from slavery to ruler just like that. Although suddenlies do take time, it’s Gods time. God does not forget. It was part of the plan all along:
Psalm 105
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him,
The ruler of the people let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house,
And ruler of all his possessions,
Song 🎵: “Whom shall I fear” by Chris Tomlin
