Passage: Genesis 41

The Big Idea

After two more years in prison, Joseph is suddenly summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, and by nightfall he’s ruling Egypt. It looks like an overnight success, but God had been building Joseph’s character for thirteen years. Character is what you are in the dark, and it’s revealed when life bumps you. When Pharaoh asked, “Can you meet my need?” Joseph answered, “It’s not in me; God will give the answer.” Suffering had purged his pride. Now God turned his affliction into fruitfulness, and made him a striking picture of Jesus, the Bread of Life for the world.

God Has a Purpose

All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Do you believe that? It’s easy when it’s about someone else: “I’m sorry you grew up poor, or lost someone you love. God has a purpose.” But what about when you are broken, disrespected, sick, poor or ashamed? That’s where the rubber meets the road and we find out what we truly believe deep inside.

That inner trust in God and commitment to do what’s right in His eyes is character.

D. L. Moody said character is what you are in the dark.
Character isn’t made in a crisis; it’s revealed there.

A Bible teacher named Henry Wingblade compared Christian character to soup in a covered bowl carried high above a waiter’s head. No one knows what’s inside until the waiter gets bumped. People don’t know what’s in us until we get bumped. But if Christ lives in us, what spills out is the fruit of the Spirit.

Character Takes Time

Character is never made overnight.

It’s formed by a living connection with God, the very life of Jesus in you.
It’s like a tree growing deep roots that will produce good fruit in season.
It’s the invisible foundation of your soul.

And it’s never imitation. Jesus isn’t primarily our example; He’s our life source (Colossians 3:4).

How can I know my character if it’s hidden? Watch what comes out when you’re caught off guard. C. S. Lewis compared it to rats in a cellar: if you open the door suddenly, you’ll see them. The suddenness doesn’t create the rats; it just keeps them from hiding. In the same way, a sudden provocation doesn’t make us ill-tempered; it reveals what was already there.

Pharaoh’s Dreams (Genesis 41:1-7)

Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed he was standing by the Nile. Seven fat, healthy cows came up out of the river, then seven ugly, thin cows came up and ate the fat ones. He woke, fell back asleep, and dreamed again: seven full, healthy heads of grain on one stalk, then seven thin, scorched heads that swallowed up the good ones.

For those two years, Joseph kept serving and growing. From the outside it looked hopeless, like God had forgotten him.
Yet Joseph kept trusting and serving God, not to get out of prison, but because he loved God and it was right.

A word for struggling marriages: love your spouse when it’s hard, because it’s right and it honors God. Love them not to change them, but to love them. Love when they don’t deserve it. Forgive before they ask. It’s really between you and God; you made your promise to Him.

No One Can Interpret (Genesis 41:8-14)

In the morning Pharaoh’s spirit was troubled. He called all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but no one could interpret the dreams.

Then the cupbearer spoke up: “Today I remember my mistakes.” He told Pharaoh about the young Hebrew in prison who had interpreted his dream and the baker’s, exactly as it happened.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they rushed him out of the dungeon. He shaved, changed clothes and came before Pharaoh.

First, Pharaoh knew he had a need. His spirit was troubled. He went to the help he knew, magicians and wise men, but they couldn’t help. They were willing but not able. We can’t go to people for what only God can do, especially in matters of the soul.
But God had a purpose. He brought to the cupbearer’s mind how Joseph had served him. You never know how serving someone overlooked might shape the future.
Second, it all seemed to happen so fast. But this was God’s appointed time. Joseph was about thirty. God had spent years developing His man, and now He was ready to show him off.
When God seems to be taking His time, draw near to Jesus. Spend the waiting absorbing His character and heart. It’s the one thing needed (Luke 10:42).

“It’s Not in Me” (Genesis 41:15-16)

Pharaoh said, “I’ve had a dream, and no one can interpret it. I’ve heard that you can hear a dream and interpret it.”

Joseph answered, “It’s not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Pharaoh was essentially asking, “Can you meet my spiritual need?”
After years of training, Joseph had only one answer in his heart: I’m nothing; God is everything. He loves you, and He will give you what you need. All I can do is point you to Him.
Taking credit didn’t even cross his mind. That proud streak from his youth had been pruned away through suffering.

The Interpretation (Genesis 41:17-36)

Pharaoh retold his dreams. Joseph said, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same. God has shown Pharaoh what He’s about to do. The seven good cows and seven good heads of grain are seven years of plenty. The seven thin cows and seven empty heads are seven years of famine. Seven years of great abundance are coming to Egypt, followed by seven years of famine so severe the abundance will be forgotten. The dream was given twice because God has firmly decided this, and He’ll do it soon.”

God gave Joseph the interpretation, neatly packaged.
God showed that He was behind the message, that He’d sent and gifted Joseph, that He controls the weather and holds the future, and that He cared about Pharaoh.
Joseph became a messenger of both love and warning. I suspect he had been praying for the people of Egypt, and this was an answer.

Joseph then advised Pharaoh to appoint a wise, discerning man over Egypt, with officers to collect a fifth of the harvest during the good years and store it in the cities as a reserve for the famine.

Joseph’s gift for administration shone. He’d had to wait for the opportunity, but now God’s reason for the gift became clear.
Do you feel like your gifts are being wasted? Keep waiting on the Lord. He’ll reveal their purpose at the right time.

Exalted (Genesis 41:37-45)

The plan pleased Pharaoh and his officials. Pharaoh asked, “Can we find anyone like this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” He told Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, no one is as discerning and wise as you. You’ll be over my house, and all my people will obey your word. Only on the throne will I be greater than you.”

Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring, dressed him in fine linen, put a gold chain around his neck and had him ride in his second chariot, with people shouting, “Bow the knee!” He gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah, and a wife, Asenath, daughter of a priest of On.

“A man in whom is the Spirit of God.” Remind you of anyone?
Joseph’s Egyptian name has been understood by many as “God speaks and He lives.” Remind you of anyone?
Joseph received a Gentile bride. Remind you of the church, Christ’s bride from every nation?

Fruitful in Affliction (Genesis 41:46-57)

Joseph was thirty when he entered Pharaoh’s service. During the seven years of plenty he gathered grain like the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting.

Before the famine, Joseph had two sons. He named the first Manasseh, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” He named the second Ephraim, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

God turned his suffering into fruitfulness. That’s what He does. He never wastes anything.
It’s never pointless for a Christian to suffer. Fruit always comes, even if you can’t see it yet (2 Corinthians 4:17).

The famine came, just as Joseph said. When the Egyptians cried to Pharaoh for bread, he said, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” Joseph opened the storehouses, and all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.

Joseph and Jesus

By now, Joseph is a remarkable picture of Jesus. Just a few of the parallels:

Loved by his father, sent to his brothers, and rejected by them.
Sold for silver and handed over to Gentiles.
Tempted severely, yet didn’t sin.
Falsely accused, made no defense, and counted among criminals.
Alongside two prisoners, one restored and one condemned.
Recognized as having the Spirit of God, then exalted after humiliation.
Honored by Gentiles and given a Gentile bride while still unknown to his brothers.
About thirty when his life’s work began (Luke 3:23).
Became the source of bread for the whole world. “Go to Joseph; do whatever he tells you.” Mary would say of Jesus, “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

Grace Takeaway

There’s no such thing as an overnight success in God’s kingdom. Every “suddenly” in Joseph’s life was built on years of hidden faithfulness, and every hard season was making room for fruit. If you’re in a waiting season, God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s building something in you that will be revealed when you get bumped. Draw near to Jesus, let Him prune your pride, and trust Him to make you fruitful in the land of your affliction.

For Discussion

What comes to mind when you hear, “God has a plan for everything”?
What is character? How is it developed? How can you tell what someone’s character is?
Do you ever wish God would hurry up your character development? What shortcuts tempt us?
Pharaoh asked, in effect, “Can you meet my spiritual need?” Have you ever tried to fix or rescue someone? Is that wrong?
Do you feel like your gifts are being wasted? What are you having to be patient for?
Dig deeper: patience in James.
– James 1:3-4. Why is our faith tested? What does patience do for us? How might this help us walk with others in their trials?
– James 1:19. Does this describe how you interact with people?
– James 5:7-8. What are we to be patient for? Should impatience ever drive ministry?
– James 5:10-11. What attributes of God matter most to learn in suffering? Is patience a work, or a fruit?

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Never an Overnight Success