Genesis 42:1-7: a reflection

1Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” 2He said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy for us from there, so that we may live, and not die.” 3Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4But Jacob didn’t send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers; for he said, “Lest perhaps harm happen to him.” 5The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth. 7Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

When famine drives Joseph's brothers down to Egypt to buy grain, they come and bow before Joseph, the governor, not knowing him; and in that moment the dreams Joseph had dreamed long before, of his brothers bowing to him, quietly come to pass. Joseph's brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth, the account says. Years before, Joseph had dreamed of this, and been hated for it; and now, through a long and unlikely chain of events, famine, slavery, imprisonment, and rise to power, God had brought it about. What God had shown long ago came to pass in his own time and way. This shows God's long providence, working out his purposes over years, through unlikely paths. God's providence works out his purposes over long years. What God purposed came to pass in his own time. God brought about his purpose through a long, unlikely path. God's purposes are worked out over time, unseen until fulfilled.

Notice how God's purpose was worked out over the long years. Joseph had dreamed, as a young man, of his brothers bowing to him; the dream had seemed impossible, and had earned him their hatred. Then came years of suffering that seemed to move in the opposite direction: sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned, far from home and family. Yet through all of it, unseen, God was working out his purpose; and now, through this long and unlikely chain of events, the brothers bow before Joseph, and what God had shown comes to pass. This reveals how God's providence often works: not in a straight, obvious line, but over long years, through unlikely and even painful paths, working out purposes we cannot see until they are fulfilled. We can trust that God is at work in our own lives in ways we cannot trace, bringing about his purposes over time, even through paths that seem to lead nowhere or the wrong way. What God purposes, he brings about in his own time and way. God works out his purposes over long years, through unlikely paths. God is at work even when we cannot trace his hand. God's providence brings about his purposes in his own time.

That is worth resting in, for God works out his purposes over long years, through unlikely and even painful paths, as he brought Joseph's brothers to bow before him, fulfilling the dream of long ago. We can feel that our lives are moving nowhere, or the wrong way, and doubt that God is at work; but through years of suffering and unlikely turns, God worked out his purpose in Joseph's life, and what he had shown came to pass. God is at work even when we cannot trace his hand. When your life seems to move the wrong way, remember that God works out his purposes over time, through paths we cannot see. Rest in the truth that God works out his purposes over long years, through unlikely and even painful paths, as Joseph's brothers came and bowed before him in Egypt, fulfilling the dream God had given Joseph long before, brought about through a long chain of famine, slavery, imprisonment, and rise to power; for God's providence often works not in a straight, obvious line but over long years, through unlikely and painful paths, working out purposes we cannot see until they are fulfilled, so that we can trust God is at work in our own lives in ways we cannot trace, bringing about his purposes in his own time and way, even through paths that seem to lead nowhere or the wrong direction, and need not doubt that he is working simply because we cannot see his hand.

Lord, when famine drives Joseph's brothers down to Egypt to buy grain, they come and bow before Joseph, the governor, not knowing him; and in that moment the dreams Joseph had dreamed long before, of his brothers bowing to him, quietly come to pass. Joseph's brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth, the account says. Years before, Joseph had dreamed of this, and been hated for it; and now, through a long and unlikely chain of events, famine, slavery, imprisonment, and rise to power, you had brought it about. What you had shown long ago came to pass in your own time and way. Show me how your purpose was worked out over the long years. Joseph had dreamed, as a young man, of his brothers bowing to him; the dream had seemed impossible. Then came years of suffering that seemed to move in the opposite direction. Yet through all of it, unseen, you were working out your purpose; and now the brothers bow before Joseph, and what you had shown comes to pass. This reveals how your providence often works: not in a straight, obvious line, but over long years, through unlikely and even painful paths, working out purposes we cannot see until they are fulfilled. I can trust that you are at work in my own life in ways I cannot trace. Take that to my heart, for you work out your purposes over long years, through unlikely paths. When my life seems to move nowhere, or the wrong way, keep me from doubting that you are at work; help me remember that you work out your purposes over time, Lord, through paths I cannot see, as you brought Joseph's brothers to bow before him and fulfilled the dream of long ago, so that I trust you are working even when I cannot trace your hand.