Genesis 41:33-45: a reflection

33“Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt’s produce in the seven plenteous years. 35Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and store grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36The food will be to supply the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; so that the land will not perish through the famine.” 37The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. 40You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.” 41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. 43He made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bow the knee!” He set him over all the land of Egypt. 44Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh. Without you, no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

After years of unjust suffering, sold into slavery by his brothers, imprisoned on a false accusation, forgotten in a dungeon, Joseph stands before Pharaoh, interprets his dream, and in a single day is lifted from prison to power, set over all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. Can we find such a one as this, Pharaoh asks, a man in whom is the Spirit of God? And he puts his signet ring on Joseph's hand. The long ordeal ends in exaltation, and, more importantly, in Joseph being placed exactly where he could save many lives from the coming famine.

Notice two things about this turn. First, God's vindication came in his own time. For years it seemed Joseph's faithfulness had led only to deeper suffering; the exaltation came suddenly, at the appointed moment, not one day before God intended. Joseph could not have known, in the pit or the prison, that this was where the road led. Second, the exaltation was not merely reward; it was purpose. Joseph was raised to power precisely so that he could preserve life, his family's and a whole region's, through the famine. The long suffering had been preparing him for a saving work.

There is encouragement here for the faithful sufferer who cannot see where the road leads. Joseph's years of unjust hardship were not wasted or forgotten; God was working through them toward both vindication and a purpose larger than Joseph could imagine. If you are in a long, hard, seemingly pointless stretch, remember Joseph. God vindicates the faithful in his own time, and the very suffering that seems to lead nowhere may be preparing you for a work of saving good you cannot yet see. Trust the God who raised Joseph, in his time and for his purposes.

Lord, after years of unjust suffering you raised Joseph in a single day, and set him where he could save many lives. When my own faithfulness seems to lead only to hardship, and I cannot see where the road goes, remind me of Joseph. You vindicate the faithful in your own time, and the suffering that seems pointless may be preparing me for a good I cannot yet see. Help me trust your timing and your larger purpose.