Even Our Best Days Can't Compare

The Story Doesn’t End Here, Part II
(Genesis 43, Preaching: Pastor Nathan Snyder, August 30, 2015)

Last week we discussed how the bad things in our lives are not the end of the story if we are in Christ.  Neither our sin nor our loss has the final word.  This week I want us to see that even the good things that happen in our lives now aren’t the end of the story.  The best is yet to come.  Today’s chapter begins with Jacob clinging to Benjamin like his life depends on him.  He even said at the end of chapter 42 that if Benjamin was lost, it would bring his gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.  Benjamin was, of course, God’s good gift to Jacob.  But Jacob is making an idol out of his son.  It almost seems he is willing to risk his whole family starving in the famine rather than risk losing Benjamin.  We can sympathize with Jacob knowing that he lost his son Joseph.  But he needs to trust God with his youngest son’s life.  Also, if Jacob would rest in the fact that he has God himself, he could hope in the fact that he cannot lose in the end.  Parents, sometimes you just have to let your children go and trust them into God’s good hands.  It can be difficult to do that if you have already endured tragic loss.  But God continues to be wise and good and powerful.  Are we more wise or more good or more powerful than God?

Judah attempts to talk sense into his father.  According to what the man in Egypt had said, they have to bring Benjamin or else they cannot go to get any grain.  This is truly the only way.  Judah makes himself the pledge of Benjamin’s safety.  (Judah is beginning to emerge as the Christlike hero in this story.  We will see him truly shine in chapter 44).  Finally, Jacob gives in, letting the brothers go to Egypt with Benjamin.  He calls upon God Almighty to grant the brothers mercy before the Egyptian official, and also submits himself to the will of God.  Yet he also recognizes that if God chooses not to grant protection over Benjamin, Jacob will simply have to accept this.  It is good to pray for our loved ones to the God who is limitless in power.  We also must submit to God’s sovereign plan.  And this is the best thing for us to do, because God’s plan will emerge as better than anything we could have come up with.

As it turns out, things go really well for the brothers during this visit.  They do not seem to be treated roughly at all like their previous time in Egypt.  The steward does not accuse them of stealing the money returned in their sacks, he releases Simeon to them, and the official who had previously accused them of being spies throws them a big meal.  Nobody sees Joseph when he runs off to weep.  It has been over twenty years since he has seen his little brother Benjamin.  The brothers look around in shock when they realize they have all been seated according to their birth order.  What are the chances of that for eleven brothers?  It must have seemed to them that the divine hand was truly blessing them – the same hand they recently believed to be dealing them retribution for their sin.  Life looks pretty good now.  Everyone eats and drinks and has a great time.  They get their grain and are ready to head back to their father with a spring in their step.  They do not realize that they are about to face another crisis on their return journey, which we will learn about in chapter 44.  They also do not realize yet that things are going to get way better than they even seem right now.  When things are pleasant for us in life, it is good to give thanks to God, but let us see such pleasures as merely a foretaste of better things to come.  No eye has seen nor mind perceived what God has in store for us in the new creation. 

Put the Word to Work: Do not look to God’s good gifts in this life as if they are the best we’re going to get.  God is orchestrating both the painful notes and the pleasant notes of our lives into a far more glorious climax than we could have imagined.

Memory Verse from the Psalms of Ascents: Psalm 132:16 – Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13 – The parable of the ten virgins

Trust God to Work All This for Good

The Story Doesn’t End Here, Part I
(Genesis 42, Preaching: Pastor Nathan Snyder, August 23, 2015)

After the seven years of plenty, the seven years of famine have begun.  The famine is not only in Egypt, but in Canaan, and thus Jacob and his sons are struggling to survive.  It has now been twenty years since Jacob lost Joseph.  Jacob believes Joseph is dead.  Little does he know that God is about to use this famine to reunite him to his lost son.  And God is going to use his lost son to save him and his entire family from perishing in the famine.  Seeking how to avoid starvation, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt where he hears there is food.  Yet Benjamin he will not permit to go with them, for Jacob will not risk losing his other most loved son.

When Joseph’s brothers arrive in Egypt to buy grain, they bow down before him.  He recognizes them, but they don’t recognize him.  Joseph remembers the dreams in which his brothers bowed down to him.  God had given him those dreams over twenty years ago.  I wonder if he ever thought about those dreams during his thirteen years of enslavement and imprisonment.  Whether or not Joseph had forgotten, God had not forgotten.  God had been working out his plans all along.  He would continue to do so.  Now what do we make of Joseph’s rough treatment of his unsuspecting brothers?  What is he up to in requiring them to bring Benjamin to Egypt?  The text does not tell us.  Is he trying to get revenge?  Joseph’s tears in verse 24 and the words he will later say to his brothers when he reveals himself (45:4-8) indicate that this isn’t what is going on.  Is he testing whether they have changed since cruelly selling him into slavery twenty years ago?  In the next couple chapters, it would appear that this is likely Joseph’s intent.  Whatever Joseph has up his sleeve, we know God is using all this for his own purposes.  We will indeed witness some amazing changes in the brothers in the next two chapters.  For now, what we see are men bearing around considerable guilt over their past wrongs done to their brother.  After all these years, when things seem to be going ill for them in their journey for grain, they immediately assume God is getting them back for their sins.  They do not know that it is Joseph standing before them and that they will all be reconciled in time.  God’s amazing story of grace has not come to an end.

When the brothers report what has happened to their father, he is crushed in spirit.  He believes he has now lost Simeon and he is unwilling to part with Benjamin.  Of course, unless he relinquishes his hold on Benjamin, he will indeed never see Simeon again.  In fact, the whole family will perish.  If Joseph’s older brothers have been consumed these twenty years with guilt over their sin, Jacob has been consumed by his loss and the fear of losing once again.  And yet the story isn’t over yet for any of them.  The brothers’ guilt is not the end of the story.  Neither is Jacob’s loss.  Joseph’s God-given dreams are coming true and God is doing something more glorious than any of them could ever have asked or imagined.  Relationships will be reconciled, the lost will be found, Joseph’s selfish brothers will reach new heights of self-giving love, many lives will be spared from starvation, Jacob will become a great nation in Egypt, and still the story will continue for Israel with much suffering and setback until God’s final happy ending.  Have you done wrong?  Confess it and repent.  Have you suffered loss?  Mourn.  But there is no need to live like your sin or your grief is the last word in your life.  Look to God.  Look to his Son for whom the cross did not end the story.  If you belong to Christ, then his resurrection victory belongs to you.

Put the Word to Work: Are you holding onto your sins, wounds, or fears rather than giving them over to God?  God wants to set you free.  Trust him.  Trust him to work out his story of grace in your life. 

Memory Verse from the Psalms of Ascents: Psalm 132:15 – I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:36-51 – The faithful and wise servant

An Unusually Gifted Man

Can We Find a Man Like This?

(Genesis 41:37-57, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, August 16, 2015)

[37] This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. [38] And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” [39] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. [40] You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” [41] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” [42] Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. [43] And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. [44] Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” [45] And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Joseph not only brought Pharaoh the true message of Pharaoh's dreams, Pharaoh saw that Joseph was more than a messenger. As Potiphar and the keeper of Pharaoh's jail saw before him, Pharaoh knew that Joseph had a gift from God for ruling.

[46] Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. [47] During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, [48] and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. [49] And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.
[50] Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. [51] Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.” [52] The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
[53] The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, [54] and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. [55] When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”
[56] So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. [57] Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Despite all of the honors that Joseph received, he knew that Egypt was not home. God had enabled him to forget what was best forgotten, and to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.

Put the Word to Work: The Son of God shall be the ruler of the whole resurrection kingdom. Our King is full of the Holy Spirit. He has chosen to forget what is best forgotten. He is most fruitful throughout this dying world as He calls His kingdom from death to life.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 132:14 – “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.”

Gospel Reading—Matthew 24:32-35 – The lesson of the fig tree

(37-45) Joseph not only brought Pharaoh the true message of Pharaoh's dreams, Pharaoh saw that Joseph was more than a messenger. As Potiphar and the keeper of Pharaoh's jail saw before him, Pharaoh knew that Joseph had a gift from God for ruling.

In the previous passage, Joseph had not only revealed the Lord's perfect interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, he also told Pharaoh what should be done next. He spoke of the need for the supreme ruler of Egypt to select a “discerning and wise man” to be “set over the land of Egypt.” That man would not work all alone. He would have an administration that followed his orders in gathering and distributing food so that “the land may not perish through famine.” This plan “pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.”

But who would be the man in charge? Pharaoh was convinced that only Joseph could really do this important job. Why? Because of the workings of God through him. “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Joseph was then given all of the signs of authority and dignity that would help him in moving ahead with what needed to be done.

He also gave Joseph a new name and a well-connected wife. Joseph “went out over the land of Egypt” to do the work that God had appointed for him.

(46-57) Despite all of the honors that Joseph received, he knew that Egypt was not home. God had enabled him to forget what was best forgotten, and to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.

This spiritually and administratively gifted man began to put the Lord's plan into action as God granted seven years of great bounty. Meanwhile the Lord blessed Joseph and his wife with two sons. The boys' names reinforced the fact that Joseph really did remember his old life. Yet he did not hang on to any bitterness. He was able in this sense to forget the sins of his brothers. This was tested later when the truth came out, and Joseph's godliness was shown to be genuine. [Think of their horrible sin... Are you able to forgive others? This is what Christ commands.] The progress of Joseph's life was not only found in his freedom from the bitterness of the past. He knew that the God who had made him forget had also made him very fruitful for life.

Joseph was a great man in the land of Egypt. Nonetheless, he knew that Egypt remained a land of affliction for him. Still, Joseph was just where the Lord needed him to be. The stage was set for this gifted servant to meet his brothers again and to lead them forward in repentance and faithfulness in an era that would ultimately last for centuries as the Lord's people waited in Egypt for the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Son of God shall be the ruler of the whole resurrection kingdom. Our King is full of the Holy Spirit. He has chosen to forget what is best forgotten. He is most fruitful throughout this dying world as He calls His kingdom from death to life.

There was no better man than Joseph to serve at this key juncture in the history of the Lord's dealings with His chosen people. The days of Israel in Egypt would not come to an end until the Lord raised up Moses to lead them out of bondage. But neither Joseph nor Moses could have ruled over the resurrection kingdom where Jesus reigns forever. “Can we find a man like this?” There is none who can compare.

We are called to see His unique qualities as the greatest of all rulers. Only He could have saved us from death and hell. Only He knows how to bring about a kingdom that will never end. We follow Him best when we forget offenses against us and serve others with joy that will not fade.

God has a dream - and you are in it...

The Dreams of the Almighty

(Genesis 41:1-36, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, August 9, 2015)

[41:1] After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, [2] and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. [3] And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. [4] And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. [5] And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. [6] And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. [7] And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. [8] So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
[9] Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. [10] When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, [11] we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. [12] A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. [13] And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
[14] Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. [15] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” [16] Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” [17] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. [18] Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. [19] Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. [20] And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, [21] but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. [22] I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. [23] Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, [24] and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

God had Joseph in just the right place at just the right time.

[25] Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [26] The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. [27] The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. [28] It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [29] There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, [30] but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, [31] and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. [32] And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. [33] Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. [34] Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. [35] And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. [36] That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

He spoke God's Word for that time and place. “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

Put the Word to Work: It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. We must say and do what God has for us to do. Jesus did that in His time and place. He has ordained this special moment for you.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 132:13 – For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:

Gospel Reading—Matthew 24:29-31 – The coming of the Son of Man

(1-24) God had Joseph in just the right place at just the right time.

In the prior chapter, Joseph had insisted that “interpretations belong to God.” It is a point that was lost upon the chief cupbearer, but one that Joseph was so secure in that he made it again before the mighty Pharaoh after a very important two-year delay.

Pharaoh first repeated the wrong theology that had come from the cupbearer, “I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph then set the record straight. “It is not in me; God will give a favorable answer.”

God has the right interpretation of everything. Of course He does. Because God is the author of all creation and providence. All of reality, including any troubling dream, is in the hands of the Almighty. Joseph did not come up with interpretations for Pharaoh. He announced the only right interpretation—the one that came from God.

The God who knew what Pharaoh's dream was all about had His man, Joseph, in just the right place at just the right time. Joseph did not know what his sufferings were all about. God did.

(25-36) He [Joseph] spoke God's Word for that time and place. “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

Even if Joseph could have figured out dreams by himself, he could not have brought about the meaning that Pharaoh's dreams contained. That should be obvious. Producing seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine was far beyond the skill set of the man who could not even deliver himself out of prison.

What Joseph could do was report to Pharaoh the truth regarding the plan of the Almighty. “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.” Joseph could impress upon Pharaoh the certainty of the Lord's message. “The doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.”

Joseph, like a good preacher, not only brought the Word of God to Pharaoh, and helped Pharaoh to see the certainty of God's Word, he also applied the message that God had given. What should Pharaoh do about the dream? Joseph knew the answer. He faithfully delivered to Pharaoh a very sensible application in verses 33-36 that would involve the selection of the right leader: “Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.” That leader would superintend over a larger administration: “Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land.” This administration would then be charged with putting into practice God's sensible plan that would save many lives. Food would be stored during the years of plenty and distributed during the years of want, “so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Put the Word to Work: It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. We must say and do what God has for us to do. Jesus did that in His time and place. He has ordained this special moment for you.

When the Lord sent His Son into this dying world, He not only gave us a Savior. He granted to us the one perfect Interpreter of everything. Jesus communicated the correct meaning of the Old Testament to us through first century apostles and prophets (Hebrews 2:3-4 and Ephesians 2:20) After pressing upon us the truth of His Word, He told us about His dream of a new Zion. (1 Peter 2:1-12, Is 28) “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1) [Illustration: Successful CEO now working with ex-convicts.]

The Right Interpretation

Faith that Works

(Genesis 40:1-23, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, August 2, 2015)

[40:1] Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. [2] And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, [3] and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. [4] The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

Joseph served two officials of Pharaoh who had fallen on hard times. True faith is ready to work.

[5] And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. [6] When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. [7] So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” [8] They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”
[9] So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, [10] and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. [11] Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.” [12] Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. [13] In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. [14] Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. [15] For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”
[16] When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, [17] and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” [18] And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. [19] In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

The correct interpretation of all mysterious providences belongs to God. But how can anyone understand unless someone reveals the truth to us? Joseph had this gift and he worked with it.

[20] On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. [21] He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. [22] But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. [23] Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

The proof of Joseph's gift was demonstrated in the speedy unfolding of events. In just three days, Joseph's credibility was established in the mind of a man who would have Pharaoh's ear.

Put the Word to Work: All of us must use what God has given to us in faith, trusting that the Lord will build His kingdom according to His own pace and plan. Only covenant-keeping Jesus could be Messiah. In three days His perfect work as our atoning sacrifice was proven to many.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 132:12 – “... If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.”

Gospel Reading—Matthew 24:15-28 – The abomination of desolation

Joseph served two officials of Pharaoh who had fallen on hard times. True faith is ready to work.

Think of everything that had happened to Joseph... Yet he kept on going despite every disappointment. He was demonstrating his calling from God everywhere he served. He was also building relationships that might be very important for the Lord's purposes.

The correct interpretation of all mysterious providences belongs to God. But how can anyone understand unless someone reveals the truth to us? Joseph had this gift and he worked with it.

Joseph had received revelatory dreams from the Lord. He knew that even those who might not know God could still receive some true word from him in the providential wrapping of a disturbing dream. The potential meaning of these stories in the night would be manifold. All possible interpretations could not be correct. Only the Lord could reveal the correct message, if any, that was being given through these dreams. Joseph had confidence in God to reveal the truth and he was willing to be used by Him to bring the right words to these two Egyptian officials.

The proof of Joseph's gift was demonstrated in the speedy unfolding of events. In just three days, Joseph's credibility was established in the mind of a man who would have Pharaoh's ear.

It did not take very long for Joseph to demonstrate that he was a true spokesman for the Lord in this situation. Joseph seemed to receive nothing for his troubles. The cupbearer allowed himself the privilege of forgetting Joseph's plea for justice. Yet even this disappointment would be important to the Lord's purposes for Joseph, the other sons of Jacob, the nation of Israel, and the eventual salvation of the world.

All of us must use what God has given to us in faith, trusting that the Lord will build His kingdom according to His own pace and plan. Only covenant-keeping Jesus could be Messiah. In three days His perfect work as our atoning sacrifice was proven to many.

Joseph was not treated well by his brothers, by Potiphar's wife, and by Pharaoh's cupbearer. Yet the Lord is over every player in his great divine drama. Of all the people in the Joseph story, Joseph himself was the most righteous. Yet if he had been delivered from evil at an earlier time, he would not have been able to do the amazing work that formed his great life.

Consider the work of the Lord Jesus in the great plan of God to bring about a kingdom of life. The Lord was building a living temple. Only Jesus could be the Cornerstone. There was a covenant between the Father and the Son that required a perfectly obedient Substitute for sinners who would then fulfill His purpose through His death and resurrection. (Isaiah 42:6, 53:5, Hebrews 13:20-21) Jesus went through death to take the throne prepared for Him by His Father.

In Pharaoh's prison, Joseph predicted that some very specific events would take place in the lives of two men. He was proven true in three short days. Jesus told His disciples that He would lay down His life in death and that He would pick it up again on the third day in resurrection. His disciples did not have to wait long in order to find out that Jesus was right.

Our role in the kingdom is not the same as that of the Son of God. Only He is King. Yet we shall reign with Him forever. Our position in the Lord's house is not from our own ability to know all the mysteries of life. Jesus has the right interpretation of everything. Trust Him and live.