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35_The beauty of God’s timing

Ps 105:16And He called for a famine upon the land;
He broke the whole staff of bread.
17 He sent a man before them,
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They forced his feet into shackles,
[h]He was put in irons;
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord refined him.
20 The king sent and released him,
The ruler of peoples, and set him free.
21 He made him lord of his house,
And ruler over all his possessions,

Ps 113
7 He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the garbage heap,
8 To seat them with noblemen,
With the noblemen of His people.
9 He has the infertile woman live in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
[d]Praise [e]the Lord!

Gen 41:1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.

Alexander Cruden, a Christian from 18th-century Scotland, experienced profound injustice when he was repeatedly committed to an asylum under dubious claims of insanity. Yet, in those trying times, Cruden completed his monumental work—a concordance of the Bible that has since guided countless believers in their study of Scripture. It was through this season of seclusion and hardship that God’s plan unfolded, using Cruden’s affliction to bring about a blessing that would last generations.

Similarly, Joseph, in Genesis 41, found himself in a prolonged period of waiting and suffering. Forgotten in prison for two years after the cupbearer’s release, Joseph could have felt abandoned. Yet God was working—not just in Joseph’s life, but in the grand narrative of Egypt and Israel. As Psalm 105 tells us, God orchestrated a famine to fulfill His purpose of bringing Israel to Egypt. Through Joseph’s trials, God was preparing him for a role that would change history.

Dreams have always been a unique medium through which God reveals His plans. However, discernment is key. Only when we walk humbly with God and align our hearts with His will can we confidently discern His voice in our dreams and aspirations. Joseph’s life exemplifies this humility. Despite the ingratitude of the cupbearer, Joseph placed his trust in God, not in people. Human forgetfulness or injustice never disrupts God’s sovereign plans. While the cupbearer may have forgotten Joseph, God never did.

The waiting period was not wasted. Just as David, another of God’s chosen leaders, spent years in preparation—first serving Saul and later as a fugitive—Joseph’s years of hardship were refining him. David learned to lead men, to show justice, and to act with mercy. When Saul and Jonathan died, David mourned with grace and honored their memory without bitterness or revenge. Such spiritual maturity is forged in the crucible of waiting, where God molds and shapes His servants for His purposes.

In Genesis 41, we see God using Pharaoh, a pagan king, to further His divine plan. God revealed the impending famine not to Jacob or Joseph, but to Pharaoh. This revelation set in motion the fulfillment of a prophecy given to Abraham—that his descendants would dwell in Egypt for 400 years before inheriting Canaan. God’s ways often transcend our understanding, reminding us that He works through whomever He chooses to accomplish His purposes.

When Joseph was brought before Pharaoh, his humility shone. He attributed his ability to interpret dreams entirely to God, refusing to take credit for himself. Joseph’s secret to enduring hardship lay in his unwavering recognition of God’s sovereignty. Whether in the depths of a prison or the courts of Pharaoh, Joseph saw every circumstance as part of God’s good plan. This perspective enabled him to remain content, diligent, and faithful, no matter the situation. True humility comes from such dependence on God, coupled with a willingness to serve wherever He places us.

Joseph’s wisdom and administrative gifts were on full display as he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and proposed a solution to prepare for the coming famine. Yet his motive was not personal advancement but the welfare of others. This selfless attitude stands as a model for us: we are called to use our gifts and opportunities not for personal gain, but to serve those in need. Joseph’s actions remind us that true leadership is rooted in service and humility.

God often uses suffering to refine His children. Just as Joseph’s trials prepared him for leadership, the Lord’s own path to perfection was marked by suffering. Peter reminds us that those who suffer in the flesh cease from sin. Trials discipline us, teaching obedience and freeing us from sin’s grip. This process of dying to our natural desires and embracing God’s will leads to true spiritual freedom. When we surrender our will and cooperate with God’s work in us, we are transformed into vessels fit for His purposes.

At 30 years old, Joseph stepped into the role God had prepared for him—a striking parallel to our Lord, who began His ministry at the same age. Joseph’s readiness stemmed from years of faithful endurance in small things, which made him trustworthy for greater responsibilities. How often do we resist God’s work in our lives, clinging to our desires or grumbling against our circumstances? Yet when we yield to His providence, we find that His plans for us are far greater than anything we could imagine.

In one day, Joseph’s life was transformed. He was elevated from a prisoner to a ruler, given authority, respect, and a family. Yet even in this exalted position, Joseph remained grounded in his purpose: to serve others and fulfill God’s will. His heart was with God, not with worldly comforts or attractions. This steadfastness is a hallmark of a life centered on God’s will, regardless of external circumstances.

Joseph’s journey foreshadows the ultimate story of redemption. Christ, rejected and slain, was raised by God and exalted as Lord of all. Just as Joseph became the source of life for Egypt, storing grain during the famine, Christ is the source of eternal life for all who come to Him. He is the head of the Church and the provider of every spiritual blessing. In Him, we find both rest from our past afflictions and fruitfulness in the Spirit.

Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, symbolize this truth. Manasseh, meaning “making to forget,” reflects the healing and freedom we experience when we trust God with our pain. Ephraim, meaning “fruitfulness,” represents the abundant life God gives us as we walk in obedience to Him. Like Joseph, we are called to let go of our past hurts and embrace the new life God offers, bearing fruit for His glory.

The story of Joseph teaches us to trust in the beauty of God’s timing. His delays are not denials; they are opportunities for preparation and growth. Just as Joseph’s years in prison refined him for his role as a leader, our seasons of waiting are designed to draw us closer to God and equip us for His purposes. When we align our hearts with His will, we can rest in the assurance that He is working all things for our good.

As we reflect on Joseph’s life, let us ask ourselves: are we willing to trust God’s timing, even when it seems slow or painful? Are we using our gifts and opportunities to serve others, or are we seeking personal gain? Are we surrendering our desires to God and allowing Him to shape us into vessels for His glory?

May we, like Joseph, learn to see God’s hand in every circumstance, humbly submit to His will, and trust in the beauty of His perfect timing. God bless.