Reading the story of Joseph in Genesis always brings me to tears.
I get touched every time I reach the part when he tries so hard to conceal his identity from his brothers when they came to Egypt to buy grain where he was the man in command. I cry the hardest when finally he reveals himself- that he is Joseph, and that everything happened for a purpose.
His brothers sold him as slave to Egypt where he was assigned to Potiphar’s house who in turn assigned him his household. Basically there was favor in everything Joseph did. Potiphar was blessed because of him. Even when he was faced with temptation from Potiphar’s wife, it was God’s way to challenge him to test his character for something greater. He was sent to jail in return for his integrity. There he met Paharaoh’s cupbearer and the baker who shared him their dreams. They were also imprisoned like him.
Joseph is the man of dreams; he had been dreaming about leadership when he was just a boy. These dreams put him in his present situation in the first place because his brothers cannot comprehend that in his dream; they will one day bow down to him. So they were envious of him and plotted to kill him but later decided to just sell him. God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams so that when the other prisoners told him their dreams, he was able to accurately foretell their meanings. When the cupbearer was released, he forgot about Joseph. And again, it was still God’s plan for him to continue staying in prison. While he was probably alone (away from his family), undressed, dirty, or cold, as we envision those imprisoned in dungeons in the early times were, the Bible says that God was with Joseph still. His favor never left him. He was again put in charge of the prison, of all the prisoners. The only thing he lacked was freedom from prison itself. And finally the cupbearer remembered him. He was summoned to interpret the dreams of the Pharaoh which not even his magicians and wise men of Egypt can interpret. This is when Joseph’s vindication and liberation came. And then his personal dreams came true. When Pharaoh put him in charge of all Egypt to prepare them for famine and lead them when famine strikes, he was second in command and all Pharaoh had, he was given, except the throne itself. God gave him so much wisdom that Egypt was not affected at all by seven years of famine. Instead, the neighboring nations came to Egypt for food. His brothers bowed down before him when they came to buy grain, not knowing he is Joseph, the brother they sold, the son of their Father he thought was killed by wild animals.
When our family was also suffering from different testing and a pattern of lack which we can equate to famine, Sam encouraged me to look at the life of Joseph and his character in the midst of all his trials and suffering. Being sold as a slave is humiliation. Imprisonment is no joke either. Being forgotten is agonizing. But constantly, in different seasons in his life, God was with him. His favor rested on him.
When we heard the call to the nations, Sam desired that he will be like Joseph. That he will gain favor with the leaders of the land and he will have the same wisdom and leadership when entrusted with a great responsibility. Looking back I am glad God placed him to work in the government where he is being honed, trained and he is able to meet and mingle with people all across the country and even abroad that those currently in church leadership may not have the chance to meet and engage with. Talking with Sam brings amazement and awe with all the cerebral inputs he can deliver and the brilliant ideas he can think about.
After all these preparations, we are expectant that like Joseph, God will remember to promote Sam to the very purpose He had in the beginning. And like Joseph, I believe that Sam plays a role in delivering God’s redeeming purpose to the land he has called us.
When I read Joseph’s story this time, I cried the hardest because I felt God’s calming assurance and I felt that His favor is at work. And it is almost time.
