Joseph: Through the Fire II
We are still walking with Joseph through the fire. Shall we continue on to part 2 ☺?
Stage 6: Faithfulness in Pain
God’s ways are not our ways. He had Joseph sent to Pharaoh’s prison intentionally. Why? Because Joseph would now be the closest he had ever been to the location of his dream.
But would he remain faithful in the prison or would he throw himself a pity party?
Faithful leadership is not easy and Joseph had to be pruned some more. And pruning is never easy…yet without it, you can’t ascend to the position God has for you. (See John 15:1-2)
While in prison, Joseph remained faithful and experienced favour, climbing once more to the highest position possible to him.
the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder. So the warder put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warder paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Genesis 39:21-23
Then came another set up. God opened the door for him to ascend to his throne. However, it was going to take him two years for him to access the door.
Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them […] in the same prison Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph […] After they had been in prison for some time, each of the two men […] had a dream the same night […] Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”[…] So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream […] “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “[…] But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison […] The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Genesis 40:2-23
Stage 7: The Throne
The stage was now set for Joseph to walk through the door God had opened for him. God used his gift of dream interpretation to usher him through the door.
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream […] In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no-one could interpret them for him. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings […] Now a young Hebrew was there with us […] We told him our dreams […] and things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us […] So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon […] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream[…] “It is just as I said to Pharaoh, God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them […] And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt[…] so that the country may not be ruined by famine […] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this made known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Genesis 41:1-40
God knew Joseph’s character had been built to a level that he could now handle the responsibility of being a leader in Egypt at the young age of thirty. As a result, Joseph successfully ushered Egypt through the famine, built his own family, was reunited with his brothers and father and reigned until his death. As the fairytales would put it, ” And Joseph lived happily ever after.”
Your Turn
The vision God had for Joseph was part of the overall masterplan He had shared with his great grandfather, Abraham.
Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and ill-treated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterwards they will come out with great possessions.
Genesis 15: 13-14
This highlights the importance of living out God’s vision for your life. Your vision is but a piece in the jigsaw puzzle of life. Your vision is never about you, but about the people whose destinies are linked to your obedience. And most of all it is about God and His masterplan.
And because of this importance, you too will go through the fire, just as Joseph did.
This does not mean that you will face his hardships and challenges. Those were unique to him. But you will go through the fire, and it is usually at this point that many turn back.
Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten ( Genesis 50:26). In retrospect, his time in the fire was very short (13 years) compared to the time of his glory. But that short time in the fire was necessary for him. Why? It is through the fire that you are preserved and secured in the ultimate position God has for you.
What sustained Joseph through the fire? Just like Noah and Abraham, it was his relationship with God.
The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered […]
Genesis 39:2
the LORD was with him […]
Genesis 39:21
[…] because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Genesis 39:23
Each vision comes with its own fire.
I don’t know what stage of the vision you currently are in, but take heart in Isaiah 43:2 and know that the fire shall not burn you.
God bless you ☺