The Dream Fulfilled – the Spirit Free!

Joseph proved his ability to adapt to whatever fate he encountered. Like the Apostle Paul he could say:
“I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].” Phillipians 4: 11 & 12 (AMP)

As the appointed Prime Minster under Pharaoh in Egypt he had power and authority:

“When the famine spread throughout Egypt, the people called out in distress to Pharaoh, calling for bread. He told the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you.” Genesis 41:55 (MSG)

As the famine spread beyond the borders of Egypt and when it reached Canaan, Jacob said to his sons:

“When Jacob learned that there was food in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you sit around here and look at one another? I’ve heard that there is food in Egypt. Go down there and buy some so that we can survive and not starve to death.” Genesis 42: 1 & 2 (MSG)

The journey to Egypt to buy food brought Jacob’s sons face to face with the brother they thought they would never see again:

“Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.” Genesis 42: 8-9 (NLT)

It is here the ultimate test came for Joseph:

“Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!”
Of course, they didn’t know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter. 24 Now he turned away from them and began to weep. When he regained his composure, he spoke to them again.Genesis 42: 21-25 (NLT)

Would Joseph be able to forgive his brothers – or would the years of suffering brought on by their hands make him bitter and vengeful after all?

There are many other dynamics in this story – but our focus is on the character of Joseph who like the Christ to come, was able to look beyond his “cross” and recognize that ultimately God was in control of his life – not his brothers and he was able to say:

“Come closer to me,” Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn’t you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.
“Hurry back to my father. Tell him, ‘Your son Joseph says: I’m master of all of Egypt. Come as fast as you can and join me here. I’ll give you a place to live in Goshen where you’ll be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and anything else you can think of. I’ll take care of you there completely. There are still five more years of famine ahead; I’ll make sure all your needs are taken care of, you and everyone connected with you—you won’t want for a thing.’ Genesis 45: 4-11

Each of us will have the opportunity to choose to for-give at some point on our Christian journey. Whether or not we experience the trauma Joseph faced – our response should always be to “give” and “forgive” – and know that:

“So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”

God Bless You and Keep You,
Maria