God Is Always On Time

God’s Timing is Always Just on Time

I have really enjoyed the past couple weeks talking about Joseph and Jacob his father. He had some dreams he shared with his brothers and father. They didn’t like these dreams and since they already did not like him… this made them dislike him even more. He was thrown into a difficult life by his brothers by being sold as a slave, and as we read, he went from Potiphar’s house, then to Pharaoh’s prison. That is where we left off last week if you were with us. He was about to get involved with the Pharaoh’s wine taster and the baker because they had dreams.

One of the blessings we get in God’s word is the ability for us to see years of time in just a few chapters. It gives us the opportunity to look at things from a higher elevation and seeing the hand of God guiding people on a path for a particular destination. This is for our sakes so that we can see that God truly is with us just as he was with Joseph. But God’s timing in perfect.

This is how we should look at our lives. Look to the past and sometimes it becomes clearer that the difficulties we were going through were clearly handled by God, and for a specific destination. Isn’t that a wonderful feeling? Probably didn’t feel like that when we were face to face with the situations. And I don’t think Joseph felt that way either.

Our first lesson on week 1 of this series was never take your eyes off of God. Joseph showed us this in how even being cast out by his own brothers into slavery. He showed us that the circumstances around us don’t have to define us. He kept his focus on God.

Then last week we talked about how Joseph was “Blessed to bless”. When we are obedient to God, we receive His best for us because we are following His path and we receive the full measure of His blessing. When this happens those around us are going to feel the joy and peace, we have because of this, and we pay the blessing forward. We are blessed and we are blessed to bless others.

Blessed to bless

Potiphar was not an unwise man… and because of his wisdom seeing the work that God was doing through Joseph. He expanded his authority to the whole house! And Potiphar’s house was blessed because of Joseph’s obedience to God.

[Genesis 39:5 NLT] 5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master's household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.

We are just vessels being used by God to show others the love of Jesus Christ. Others are blessed by God with the love of Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Because of Joseph’s obedience he was blessed and even in the midst of accusations. Last week we talked about the wife of Potiphar accusing Joseph of trying to sleep with her. This accusation would have been normally an immediate sentence of death… But…Potiphar trusted Joseph because he saw God through Joseph’s character. I feel he knew these accusations were lies even if they came from his wife. So, Joseph is put the prison of Pharaoh’s court. I feel that Potiphar put him there also because it was a place, he would have an ability to see Joseph. He liked Joseph and in this place he could watch him more closely.

That is where we start this week. Last week we finished where Joseph was put in charge of the prison by the keeper of the prison. Again, the favor of God is given to Joseph because of his obedience. He did not let the circumstances define his behavior or reaction to others around him. He showed the love of God.

Now, this week let’s start reading in Genesis 40: 1-8

[Genesis 40:1-8 NLT] 1 Some time later, Pharaoh's chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. 2 Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, 3 and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. 4 They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them. 5 While they were in prison, Pharaoh's cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. 6 When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. 7 "Why do you look so worried today?" he asked them. 8 And they replied, "We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean." "Interpreting dreams is God's business," Joseph replied. "Go ahead and tell me your dreams."

So, these men were of Pharaoh’s high court. One was the wine taster, and the other was the head baker. Pharaoh was mad at them for some reason. This is not scriptural but I will plant the seed that many do speculate that Pharaoh was concerned that one of them was conspiring to poison him. Others say they stole something from Pharaoh such as a gold band etc. So, he put them both in prison until he could investigate and come to a clear answer.

Let’s notice that the hand of God is moving these men in to the right place at the right time for Joseph to be given charge over them. We can tell Joseph and Potiphar are still communicating because the scriptures tell us that the Captain of the Guard which was Potiphar came to Joseph and put the royal court members in Joseph’s charge to serve them.

What I really like about this portion of the scriptures is how we see the tremendous humility that Joseph had. Here he is the third highest position in the prison. First would have been Potiphar as the Captain of the Guard, and second would have been the keeper of the prison, and third is Joseph. But, in the request from Potiphar, Joseph humbles himself to the prisoners and serves them.

Attitude of Servitude

What a wonderful lesson for us. No matter how high you get in authority you can never lose sight of serving. I feel that Joseph really understood the blessing he received from serving others. Seeing them prosper brought joy to him. Even in the midst of the circumstances around him. He showed the love of God and gave glory to God for everything. The way I see it is that Joseph considered waking each morning with breath in his lungs as a good day and he thanked God for it. How about you? Do you wake up in the morning, and just say “Thank you God for another day… Use me today God!”.

Now, we don’t know how long they were in prison with Joseph. But, long enough for him to develop a relationship and know them. Genesis 40:4 tells us that they were in custody for some time. I think this was important to him. Here is why. Let’s read

[Genesis 40:5-6 NLT] 5 While they were in prison, Pharaoh's cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. 6 When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset.

Joseph finds joy in serving others. Do you feel like that? There is something about serving someone like in a soup kitchen. It brings you joy. Joseph sees they are sad and this bothers him.

[Gen 40:7 NLT] 7 "Why do you look so worried today?" he asked them.

He was legitimately concerned for them. It bothered him they were not feeling well. He wanted to know. What is going on? Are you feeling sick? Is there something wrong that maybe I can fix for you?

They trust Joseph by learning his character while he served them in prison. This is the love of God that is contagious. This love we have in us from God permeates to others around us. It doesn’t matter if they are Christian or not. The true love of God creates an attraction to those around us. As saints we are like night lights in a dark world. These men knew a difference in Joseph because of the love in his heart for God.

So, they reveal to him what the issue is. They have had a few dreams. Each one has dreamed a dream in the night which made them sad. He knows that God can give interpretation to anything. And he asks the men to tell him their dreams. Let’s continue reading Genesis 40: 8-23

[Genesis 40:8-23 NLT] 8 And they replied, "We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean." "Interpreting dreams is God's business," Joseph replied. "Go ahead and tell me your dreams." 9 So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. "In my dream," he said, "I saw a grapevine in front of me. 10 The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. 11 I was holding Pharaoh's wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand." 12 "This is what the dream means," Joseph said. "The three branches represent three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. 14 And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. 15 For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I'm here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it." 16 When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, "I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. 17 The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head." 18 "This is what the dream means," Joseph told him. "The three baskets also represent three days. 19 Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh." 20 Pharaoh's birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. 21 He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. 22 But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. 23 Pharaoh's chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

Joseph was 28 years old when this all came to pass. Here is how you can tell. He was 17 when he was introduced to Potiphar’s house. In Genesis 41:46 lets read:

[Gen 41:46 NLT] 46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh's presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.

So, we know he was thirty years old which was thirteen years since he was sold into slavery by his brothers. And when the butler and the baker gave dreams to Joseph until the time he was before Pharaoh was 2 years. So, we can see he is 28 years old and truly a gifted man to have been in charge of Potiphar’s home, and now even in the prison. He continues to use all these circumstances to be the best that God has planned for him. I think Joseph realizes that God is preparing him for greater things. He takes every opportunity to learn.

God is Always Just on Time

So, the dreams come true and the Butler is put back in Pharaoh’s court serving him wine, and the Baker is put to death. But the Butler forgets Joseph and all that was done for him.

[Gen 40:23 NLT] 23 Pharaoh's chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

Remember Joseph asked him to remember him. This is a timing thing here… Sometimes we have to wait for the right time of God. If the butler had mentioned Joseph right way the time was not right. If Joseph would have been brought before Pharaoh at that time, he would have been a side show. Pharaoh did not need his dream interpretation.

We need to remember this in our walk too. You ever just want God to move faster? C’mon God!!!

I kind of think about this like the kids in the back seat of the car on a family road trip… “are we there yet!” … “are we there yet?” … “are we there yet?” … And God is patiently driving fully aware of the blessing He is driving us to.

This time took a full 2 years to be just right. God has the Butler and Pharaoh just where he wants them.

Let’s pick up our Bibles and read Genesis 41: 1-16

[Genesis 41:1-16 NLT] 1 Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 2 In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 3 Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 4 Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. 5 But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. 6 Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. 7 And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream. 8 The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant. 9 Finally, the king's chief cup-bearer spoke up. "Today I have been reminded of my failure," he told Pharaoh. 10 "Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. 11 One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. 12 There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. 13 And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole." 14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it." 16 "It is beyond my power to do this," Joseph replied. "But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease."

Finally! The Pharaoh has his dreams just as the butler and the baker. Now, the butler sees how troubles his king is and he humbly tells him that he met Joseph who could interpret dreams. And Pharaoh summons Joseph to his court immediately.

Now Joseph goes from the pit to the throne of Pharaoh standing before the most powerful man in that area of the world. Face to face and it is all because patience, and trust in God. We can learn a lot from Joseph. We can learn as Joseph that God has a plan for your life… God’s timing in perfect. All God is asking us to do is take each step trusting Him and putting Him first.

Never take your eyes off of God, in doing so you will be blessed, and contagious to bless others around you paying it forward. It is like having a car and the wheels can get out of alignment. When that happens driving on the road gets more difficult. But when your wheels are aligned by being on your knees in prayer, and reading God’s Word… you are able to stay the course… You may not like the road… but remember the road is not your destination. It is just a path to get you there, and sometimes the path can teach us great wisdom if we allow God to be the main focus.

Next week is Palm Sunday. So, we will pick up on Joseph in three weeks.

Let’s pray.