We left Joseph yesterday having been rushed into the presence of Pharaoh. Rushed? Joseph wanted out of prison after he interpreted the dream for the chief butler. Then…

After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. (Genesis 41.1 – 4, ESV)

But then things move quickly. Joseph told Pharaoh about the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine and suggested that Pharaoh appoint a man to oversee crop collection and distribution.

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. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41.37 – 41, ESV)

It took Joseph 13 years to be an overnight success!

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. (Genesis 37.2, ESV)

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Genesis 41.46, ESV)

Thirteen years. Two of those years were after Joseph had helped the chief butler. What are the lessons from that?

• How would you forget a guy like Joseph? God’s sovereignty?
• Things don’t always go well for God’s man. (Compare John 16.33)
• God’s timetable is different from ours.
• If he had spoken to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh released Joseph, Joseph might have gone home and would not have been in a position to protect his family.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55.8, 9, ESV)

This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? (Isaiah 14.26, 27, ESV)