Mark continued his series on Joseph this morning, looking at Gen 41:1. We left Joseph having interpreted the dreams of the cup-bearer and the baker but languishing in jail for a further two years. He may well have felt fed-up and frustrated and even angry with the cup-bearer for forgetting about him. In hindsight, however, we can see that God was working in the situation to bring to pass plans which were far greater than Joseph could have imagined.
God has a plan for everything to be fulfilled, but we must wait for His timing. As Hab 2:1-3 reminds us, we have to watch out for the dream, keep it alive through prayer and wait for God to bring it to pass. Even when things do not seem to be going our way, God has not forgotten us.
Pharaoh had a dream too. He was a significant person – in charge of most of the known world at this time, and his dream was equally significant for the future of that world. The fact remains, however, that God used him and gave him that dream. God can use whomever He wishes to bring His plans to fulfilment. Joseph will ultimately remind Pharaoh of the fact that this dream is from God (and since Pharaoh considered himself a god, this would be a risky thing to remind him!) The story we are involved in is not just about Joseph or about Pharaoh, however. It is about God, and God will work out His plans using anyone He chooses! Similarly, our lives are not just our own stories, but are a part of God’s great story.