Genesis 41:1&2
Now it happened at the end of two full years…the cupbearer told pharoah, “Now a Hebrew youth was with us there a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream.”
God directs circumstances in our lives in His time. Joseph is ready to be put on the launch pad and be catapulted to great heights. However, for Joseph, he had suffered many disappointments. The cupbearer could have told pharoah two years earlier, but he forgot. Who knows what happened in the two years that may have been damaging. The devil is still at work trying to destroy us. A prison contains many elements that can wreck a person. In this case, the circumstances weren’t ripe. Joseph needed be accesible when pharaoh had his dream. He may have gone back to his family upon release. Life contains many letdowns. These occur when our expectations aren’t met. God does guide us and we can trust Him. The problem arrises when our hopes don’t match the events. These usually involve problems. It’s ok to desire to be rid of them and we may work to clear them. But just as Joseph had more prison time, so also we may be stuck for another two years. God uses that time to perfect us and ripen the circumstances. It’s not waisted. He can use one circumstance on a dozen lives. It all depends on how we use it. The children of Israel were brought through the wilderness. The duration was to be a year or two. Their disobediance stretched it out. My focus is on the initial two years. It was intended. As we comply and trust in God, He will work a great work. We have no evidence that Joseph was bitter in any of his disappointments. Lord, may our attitudes remain trusting, patient and joyful.