Genesis 41:37-40

Yesterday we saw Joseph thrown into the prison where the King’s (aka Pharaoh) prisoners were placed. The Bible is not specific but it says “sometime later” the King’s cup bearer and chief baker were put in prison with Joseph. (Who, by the way, was helping lead the prison.) They both had dreams and God told Joseph what they meant. He told these men what was going to happen to them and it did. Joseph hoped the cup bearer would tell someone he was correct on the dream and let him out of prison. But the cup bearer forgot.

It was 2 full years later, when Pharaoh had 2 dreams that he didn’t understand. The cup bearer spoke up and told Pharaoh about Joseph. When asked, Joseph gave ALL the credit to God. (Genesis 41:16) Those 2 dreams were a warning of a famine coming to the land. Not only did Joseph tell the meaning behind the dreams, but he also gave advice on what to do to prepare for the famine. THEN Pharaoh appointed Joseph second in charge of his country.

This would be like a “troubled teenager” who spent time in jail then prison and the President of the United States takes him out of prison and makes him Vice President. No schooling, no serving our country, never held an office in the Government. Ever. That is God’s favor and Him getting Joseph to where He needed him.

Joseph’s dream as a teenager was real. Scholars predict that Joseph was 17 when his brothers sold him. By the time of our verses, they think he was 30 years old. That's 13 years of going through junk. Things that he did not cause. But look at how he turned out! God used the bad for good and had Joseph right where he needed to be in order to save his family. If I remember correctly, by the time Jacob and everyone came to Egypt to live, there were 70 people in the family. What a story of resilience and steadfastness! Joseph went through a lot and was rewarded greatly.