Joseph-The Waiting Room Series

Plenty of time to grow bitter and angry. Folks have given up on God for a lot less.

Not Joseph. On a day, two years later, that began like any other he heard a stirring at the dungeon entrance. Loud demanding voices hollered, “We are here for the Hebrew. Pharaoh wants the Hebrew”.

They escorted him to another room where attendants flocked around him. They removed his soiled clothing, washed his body and shaved his beard. They dressed him in a white rob and some new sandals. The guards then reappeared and walked into the throne room.

Here was Joseph eye to eye with Pharaoh for the first time. Was the wait over finally?

Pharaoh hadn’t slept well the night before. He had dreams that were troubling him. He asked Joseph if he could interpret his dreams. Joseph’s last two encounters hadn’t ended so well. Mrs. Potiphar lied about him and the cupbearer had forgotten about him. In both cases Joseph had mentioned God. Perhaps he should leave God out of it this time…

He didn’t. Instead he says in Genesis 41.16, “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Joseph emerged from prison still bragging on God. Prison had not shook his faith.

And you? You aren’t in prison this morning but you may be infertile or inactive or in limbo or in between jobs or in search of health, help, a house, or a spouse. Are you in God’s waiting room? If you are there is something you need to know.

While you wait God works. John 5.17, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working”

God never stops. He takes no vacations. He rested on the seventh day but has worked for you ever since. Just because you are idle don’t think God is.

Joseph seemed to be done in Chapter 40. Our hero was at the bottom. The train was off the tracks. Joseph was in a stand still in prison. But while Joseph was waiting God was working. God placed the cupbearer into place under Joseph’s care. He stirred the sleep of Pharaoh with some crazy dreams. He had the counselors of Pharaoh so confused they could not do anything. And at just the right time God called Joseph to do his part.

God is working for you as well.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46.10.

That is the sign on God’s waiting room. You can be glad because God is good. You can be still because He is active. You can rest because He is busy.

Remember God’s word through Moses o the Israelites. Exodus 14.13-14, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

The Israelites saw the Red sea ahead of them and heard the Egyptian soldiers behind them thundering toward them. Death either way. Stand still? Are you kidding? But what they didn’t see was God’s hand at the bottom of the sea creating a path and His breath from heaven clearing a path for them. God was working for them.

God also worked for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The angel told her she would become pregnant. The announcement stirred a bunch of questions in her heart. How did she become pregnant? She had not known anyone. What would people think? What would her husband to be say? Yet God was working for her. He sent a message to Joseph her fiancé. God prompted Caesar to declare a census. God led the family to Bethlehem.