SEVENTH INNING
So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
This happens elsewhere in the Bible (with Daniel, for example), but let’s be clear: When the pressure is on, and we have a dream that we somehow know is significant, we have no definitive way to go about interpreting it. Humans are only guessing, based on reasoning and experience alone. Psychology can only mumble about unresolved past experiences and such. For that matter, if the dream is from the Lord, not even the strongest of demons, trained in the magic arts or calling on the dead for interpretation, has a clue. The meaning is hidden even to them, known only to God, who originated the dream in the first place.
All of Pharoah’s skilled men failed. They could not even arrive at a consensus as to the meaning of the dream. And that’s when the chief cupbearer finally remembers Joseph’s gift to him, and his promise to Joseph. Joseph had been two-for-two that day two years before, back in prison, and the stakes had been pretty high (life and death) for those two men. It made a big impression on the cupbearer. Until he forgot all about it until just now. Which, as it turns out, is the moment that Pharaoh happened to have need of a dream interpretation, rather than two years before. God is still in control.
So Pharaoh calls for Joseph, and Joseph gets cleaned up and shaved and ready to stand before the ruler of the land. Joseph knows where the power to interpret dreams comes from, and he makes it clear:
Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." Genesis 41:16 . . .
Then, with all confidence, Joseph goes about giving a clear interpretation.
Joseph’s confidence is so high that he dares to advise Pharoah to reconfigure the country’s entire economic model around a weather prediction that goes fourteen years out!
It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. . . . And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.
Consider: Up to this moment, Joseph has lived in this country, as a slave and a prisoner, for thirteen total years! How could he speak with such authority that he would command such a positive response? What’s more, because Pharoah followed Joseph’s counsel, Egypt became an economic superpower for generations! Not to mention that the entire Middle East was spared from that horrific famine.
Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. . . . That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine." Genesis 41:25-36
This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. . . . And they called out before him, "Bow the knee!" Genesis 41:37-45
Well, Joseph’s story is amazing because he has several more ups and downs to his story, which is filled with such amazing coincidences that you would almost think God Himself was behind it!
EIGHTH INNING
Joseph marries and has two sons and settles into his new life in a foreign land. No longer a slave. No longer a prisoner. But as the second-highest ruler in the country. Things are looking much better for Joseph. And he knows the God is the one who brought it all about.
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house." The name of the second he called Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." Genesis 41:51-52
But, wait! What about those dreams he had back in his childhood? They still haven’t been fulfilled. But maybe, just maybe, God is so much in control of everything that even that unforeseen thing might come to fruition. Could it be?
And then Joseph’s brothers come to call! They haven’t even been in the story for a quarter of a century, but this is another one of God’s extremely patient fulfillments of a promise. His brothers have no idea that their brother is still alive, much less the powerful man before them. And they—you guessed it—they bow down before him.
Of course, Joseph knows who they are. And everything they ever did to him comes right back to smack him upside the head. This is a true test of his character, and a test of his faith. Is God bigger than his brothers? Is God in control, even over their unloving actions and cruel behavior? Have they, his brothers, succeeded in ruining Joseph’s life and preventing his dreams from coming true? The answers are Yes. Yes. And No.
And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. Genesis 4:9
So, what will Joseph do? He will have some tricks to test their character, and he will reconcile and choose love. His brothers show regret and contrition for what they did to Joseph. And Joseph is able to say that what his brothers meant for evil was used for good.
His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:15-21
NINTH INNING
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. . . . And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. . . . And controlling himself he said, "Serve the food." . . . And they drank and were merry with him. (Genesis 43:26-34) . . . They fell before him to the ground. . . . And Judah said, ". . . God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, Genesis 44:14-17
And so the dreams came true, and his older brothers all bowed before him and shared in a covenantal meal with him. And the dreams came true. And Joseph, the man of faith, saw God’s providence, and said to his brothers,
And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. . . . And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 45:5-8
In the end, Joseph invites all the boys and their families to come and join him, their little brother, so he can save their lives and give them a place to flourish for several generations. And Israel brings an offering to the Lord, and it is fitting that he would have a vision in the night to know what to do.
So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes." Genesis 46:1-4
And the whole clan moves to the land of Goshen, and Joseph’s father sees him again and blesses Joseph’s own two sons. And they all lived happily ever after.
And then he died.
And another ruler arose who did not of Joseph’s reputation.
But that is a story for another book.
And that’s why they play nine. And then play another game the next day. Because it ain’t over until God says it’s over.
YOUR ENCOUNTER
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way." Genesis 45:24
Twice in these difficult years for Joseph, we are told that the Lord was with Joseph. In both cases, it cites the way that God blessed the work that Joseph did, so that he was effective and rose to prominence within the confines of his station. So what do we make of this? There are only three main options: The first is that we know God is with us because we have a sense of His presence and nearness. It is basing a lot on experience, but Jesus Himself talked a lot about abiding in Him, and that we would abjectly fail if we did not abide in Him and His word abide in us, so maybe we can at least say we are walking in communion with God. But I think the context implies something more objective. That is not to say that we know God is with us because everything we touch turns to gold. But maybe it is to acknowledge that we know God is with us because what we do seems to be effective. Or maybe some combination of all three is the truth.
“We beheld His glory
sitting on a hill
Telling us God stories,
our Lord Emmanuel
We beheld His glory
on the mountaintop
We beheld His glory
when the storm was stopped
God is with us
Emmanuel
God is with us.
He’s with us still.
We beheld His glory
as He healed the lame man
We beheld His glory
when He forgave the harlot’s sin
God is with us
blessing the children now
God is with us
He’s with us still
I must confess it’s not as bright as I would have pictured
It’s not as magical as I would have dreamed
Yeah, it’s a little less looking like a Hallmark card
and a little more earthy and a lot more hard
to see Him crying alone in the middle of the night
giving up His home
giving up His life
We beheld His glory
hanging on a tree
We beheld His glory
when the grave set him free
God is with us
see Him riding on the clouds
God is with us
He’s with us now
He’s with us still
He’s with us now
”
Let’s keep adding to that formula. Objectively speaking, the Lord Jesus Christ IS God With Us. Emmanuel. He was with us then. He is with us still. He will never leave nor forsake us. So we know He is with us because that’s what He promises is the truth. God is with us whether I feel it or not.
Plus, we have a certain experience when we pray, and we walk in His presence, aware of our enduring communion with His Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. God is with us and I DO feel it.
On top of all that, when I am working within the flow of His leading, and I am abiding in Him and His word is abiding in me, then He is answering my prayers, whatever I ask for in His name I receive. I won’t be asking for earthly riches, but I will indeed be asking that what I do for and through Him will be effective. God is with us and I feel it and He confirms it by answering my prayers.
On to your encounter for the day: The name Emmanuel doesn’t mean “God was with us.” It means “God IS with us.” He is with you right now, wherever you are. Whether you are at the bottom of a well, sold by your family as a slave, working as a slave, or serving an unjust sentence in jail—He is. With. Us. Not just you. Not just me. But Us. Thank You, Lord.
Would you acknowledge the silent person in the room with you, who is the Holy Spirit? Thank Him for His grace toward you. Thank Him for blessing the work of your hands. Ask Him to guide your next 7 days, and pledge to keep a count of His blessings and answers along the way. We all may be surprised by how present a help He is in times of trouble, and how many ways He nudges us to let us know that He is with us today. Go ahead and make it an actual list that you keep with you through the week. Share your list with someone and pray for one another.