Lesson 22 - Joseph Governs Egypt:
 Faithful Service Rewarded
 Read Genesis 41-42 - www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.41
 
*How do you handle dreams or other things that trouble you?

We often take a short-term view of the Christian life that concentrates on what God does FOR us NOW. Yet God has longer-range purposes that focus on what He wants to accomplish IN us for the FUTURE. This principle has been at work in Joseph's life. Through adversity and disappointment God developed his character and gave him invaluable training. Now a sudden crisis and opportunity reveal what kind of person he has become—an example that can encourage us in our life and service for God.

The first part of chapter 41 tells us how Joseph interpreted the king’s dreams. Joseph did not trust his own judgment in how to interpret these dreams, he said only God could interpret dreams. God did so through Joseph, telling Pharaoh about things that would happen.

Let’s look at Joseph’s life for how God had prepared him for this moment when He would put Joseph in charge of keeping the people of Egypt fed for 14 years. First, he needed the ability to administer this whole program that would involve more than just the country of Egypt. Could he have learned this at home with his father? Probably not since his older brothers had already taken on those tasks. He learned it both at Potiphar’s house and in prison as he administered those two places. Second, he needed to become a leader of people, someone people would want to obey. This he learned in prison as he led his fellow prisoners.


An important thing to notice in this story is that God didn’t take Joseph directly from his life as a favored son in Jacob’s house to the palace in Egypt to become the leader second to the king. Often we want to skip over the hard times of trying and learning, and step directly into the important places. This is not God’s way, for God’s purpose in things here in this life is not this life – it is the future when we live with Him in a place we cannot even imagine yet. We are preparing here for an eternity with God.

*Where in your life do you see how God has used unpleasant things to prepare you for something you are doing now?
*How can the experience of Joseph help you to persevere in the face of hardship when there is little reward or sense of appreciation?
*How has adversity or pressure helped you become more mature in your responsibility for others?