Genesis Chapter 41 Verse 1

• Not “two years,” “two FULL years,” and you know what, sometimes that’s how it goes. We are the app society! The drive-thru generation! But sometimes it takes time for God to work out what He’s doing. Wait on Him. Trust Him today, right where you’re at!

• You ever go through the drive-thru, get home and unload the bag and they’ve forgotten something!? Yea, God doesn’t do that! HA! I remember going through the drive-thru at Panda Express once and when we got home I was so excited!! Opened up that Styrofoam container expecting to see some piping hot mixed vegetables and Szechuan shrimp…and there it is, a single scoop of rice! They forgot to put the entrees in there! WHAT A LET DOWN!

• That never happens with the Lord! He never forgets, never half-delivers…and man it’s all the time that I wish that it would just be 2 years, or 2 days, but so often the best of God’s plans are two FULL years perhaps right where I’m at, and sometimes right where I want not to be. But here’s what I know…If it’s the Lord I’m waiting on, it’s worth it. God has a purpose in the delay and that Szechuan is coming!!

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 1 – 12a

• I really like this scene because this is what I see in the butler that I see very sparingly among folks and even myself. The butler “remembered his faults.” Literally, in the Hebrew, it says that he was, “mindful, mind-filled, it came into his mind, his offense.” How something wasn’t right, he had done something wrong and until that moment, it had slipped his mind…but in that moment he realized it and this is what I like…he doesn’t run from it, justify it away, he admits it outwardly…

• My little Lincoln, I remember I was turning to go outside or into the garage or something and Link had walked up, was like walking by me in the house, and when I turned we kinda ran into each other but you know, he’s a bit shorter than me…and he ran into me kinda hard, and it kinda hurt and when I grimaced…he stepped back and saw that and he said, “I’m sorry.” Now, I know he didn’t mean anything by running into me…and he could have just said, “Dad, are you ok,” or even gone on his way…but the fact he said, “I’m sorry,” that sticks with me…and I immediately paid him back with a swift body slam…nooooo…I immediately grabbed him and gave him a hug.

• This butler, remembers, is mindful of this wrong, and he doesn’t overlook it, hmmmm it away…he admits it outwardly which indicates he had admitted it inwardly AND he does something about it! He takes immediate action to make it right! If he hadn’t taken immediate action right then, I highly doubt that he would have ever….and it’s the same with me…imagine an hour later, a day later, a week later, Link walks up to me, “Dad, you remember when I ran into you in the kitchen? Yea, about that…sorry.” Still means something…but much less and oh by the way…99% chance as soon as it leaves his mind in the moment, he never does it anyway…

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 12 – 14

• Quick note here…perhaps some of you need this not to be a quick note and I understand that…when God moves, when you’re trusting in Him, things CAN change in an instant. Two years of prisoners coming and going. Two years of each night not knowing if he’s ever getting out…two years of no showers, no marketplace hikes, no nature walks, two years…and in one moment, cleaned, new clothes and face to face with the king of the known world…never to return to prison again.

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 15 – 16

• An amazing statement! At least it is to me. Why? Because after two years in the pit, Joseph still trusts and honors the Lord and because of it…HE IS OUT! “It is not of me!?” Are you kidding? Show Pharaoh your power, your wisdom, your might! This is your chance…, “You better lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go, you only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!” The world’s anthem…yet the Spirit would say and the cross of God’s love would say, “Don’t forget Me.” You know the next line in that song? “The souls escaping, through this hole that is gaping, this world is mine for the taking…make ME king…”

• But not Joseph, not one who trusts the Lord…even with possibly going back to prison looming over this interaction….He trusts and points to the Lord! That is an amazing statement to me!!

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 16 – 30

• That is an enlightening statement. The years of famine will cause the years of plenty to be forgotten….It can happen that way too for us. Never forget what God has done…that will keep your head above water in times of great testing and trial. And in those times of great testing and trial, fill you mind with truth like Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” Or 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny Himself!”

• It has been recorded that the Word of God contains upwards of 5,500 promises of God! Those promises reveal God’s particular and eternal purposes, as well as His heart for you and for me and to those promises (and to you and to me) He is unchangeably committed…because of that truth which has never and can never be proven not true, we as believers can be totally trusting and dependent upon His Word. That is the faithfulness that God loves and longs for from each of us. Why? Because that agreement with God leads our lives to still waters…

• Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Trust the Lord right where you’re at…God is working something out, He has a plan…He’s not winging it with you! He loves you! Even if He is allowing great suffering, He see’s every degree of it along the way! Matthew Henry once said, “Every tear of sorrow sown by the righteous springs up a pearl!” And man this world needs those pearls…Paul went on in Romans 8 and in verse 19 he said, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God!” That’s the lighthouse, that’s the beacon…the sign of God on earth…is those that will trust Him even in the darkest of personal trials…if that’s you, you probably don’t see it, but you are being used MIGHTILY by the Lord!

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 31 – 36

• Joseph not only was given revelation and wisdom about the problem, but he also, notice this, brought the solution. If you have the boldness to reveal a problem in a brother or a sister or a spouse or your home or a church, this church, remember this principle…God will give Pharaoh an answer…OF PEACE! Any adolescent child can tell me what I have or what you have in terms of problems but it takes an adult, a brother, a sister to care enough to pray, trust the Lord, and discern a viable, peaceful solution…and then to walk through it with me. God is not a scatter shooter with truth….He walks through it with you.

• The solution is there…if you seek God you will find Him the Bible says…but are you seeking a solution of peace? Pharaoh has left Joseph in the prison for 2 full years…and yet Joseph still seeks peace for Pharaoh…because of that agreement with God…God delivers the solution. A great truth and example even for us today.

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 37 – 38

• By the way, this was ULTRA bold on the part of Joseph because no doubt Pharaoh was exalted as a god amongst the Egyptian nation. And so really, this scene is intensely remarkable and everyone there, all who are in attendance would be in awe of what Joseph has said and how Pharaoh has answered.

• So in reality, Pharaoh in no way needed to elevate Joseph in terms of authority, presence and even respectful rank over the officers of the people…it was PALPABLE in the room! Why? Because of Joseph’s education, his authoritarian character, his background…NO!! He was a condemned prisoner 10 minutes ago!! It was his assurity in his God and his integrity even in the face of peril! A revealed son of God!

• One more thing to see here…Joseph did not have to say or instruct that the Spirit of God was with him...Pharaoh said it and I like that. God is my Defender…and if I have to plead for my own righteousness then I probably don’t have it…

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 39 – 43

• Joseph has immediately been placed into leadership…right? I’m not so sure. 13 years…13 years this moment has been in the making. Was he ready 13 years ago? In terms of gifts and talents…yes! But 13 years, 11 in a place not his home and 2 in prison, not of his doing…13 years of character being built…necessary for this position and responsibility. Gifts and talents are important but God looks for and always takes time to develop character.

Genesis Chapter 41 Verses 44 – 57

• God allows Joseph to be used in such a mighty way…providing grain for the entire known world and saving countless lives…and in the midst of what God is doing through him now…the two full years…the intense pain of being perhaps even forsaken…the years of famine…forgotten in the years of fruitfulness.

• Walt Disney once stated, “You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Why? Because Walt Disney, before he was successful, was famously fired by a newspaper company for having no imagination. At the age of 22, Walt became bankrupt after the failure of a cartoon series and his company was dissolved. It has been said that he survived on dog food at this time. The hugely popular Disney character, Mickey Mouse that we all know and love was originally turned down by MGM studios, as apparently a big mouse on TV would scare women! He lost over a million dollars in the making of Pinocchio…

• What’s happened? Borrowing from Pastor Trifon, “It’s time to build a bridge and get over it!” Where you have been and what you have been through…your choice, can either build in you grief or grit! Have you lived for yourself, not placed your trust in the Lord, not followed Him…are you filled with grief…be honest, because ultimately you have failed the Lord? Well then don’t fail Him now! Don’t miss what God has for you…don’t miss how He can use you…you have a chance to forget the years of famine and follow the Lord into the years and heart of fruitfulness…the greatest and most foolish tragedy would be for any of us, for you, to forfeit fruitfulness in your life…all the while looking for it…all the while wanting it…all the while even asking God for it…but no strength of character being built to do what is right.

• That strength of character is found in trusting God right now, even in the trial, assure yourself in His promises which He cannot change or turn from EVER….and prepare each day for the call!