Perspective: WK4 - MON
Remembered
Genesis 41:1, 14
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream…
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph…
“When two full years had passed…”
I have to admit, I’m not a very patient person. I like to make things happen, pull the trigger, get things going. It drives me a little crazy to sit in a committee or among a group of people for the second or third time, only to discuss the same problems and brainstorm the same solutions, while no one has done anything about them in the meantime. What are we waiting for, people?
Even harder for me? When someone has made a commitment that affects a range of decisions I’m considering, it’s hard to resist acting on that promise and moving forward on the assumption they will follow through. Wisdom and experience tell me to wait until the “chickens are hatched” before acting. But it’s hard to resist. Oh, the waiting.
We’ve all experienced dark days when the job offer doesn’t materialize as promised, the pay raise is derailed, or the offer on the house falls through. Maybe the challenges you’ve faced include a fiancé changing their mind, a spouse walking away, or a baby lost before birth. Beyond being painful, these experiences teach us to view the world through cynical eyes, minimize hope, and check out on faith.
Today’s passage in Genesis 41 echoes a pattern repeated throughout Scripture. The pain and problems of today may seem insurmountable, but “when two full years had passed…” something happens. Abraham might be unsure of where he is going, but “when two full years had passed,” God showed him the land of promise. Moses might be pinned between the Egyptians and the Red Sea, but “when two full years had passed,” the sea parted, and a path was made. The walls of Jerusalem may have crumbled, and depression may have taken hold of Nehemiah’s heart, but “when two full years had passed,” the king sent him with the time, money, and authority to rebuild the walls. Jesus may be buried in a tomb, but “when two full years had passed,” the stone rolled away, and he arose again.
Maybe you are at the beginning of this cycle, when a promise fills you with hope, and you haven’t had time for disappointment. Others of us have waited so long since the promise was made that despair and hopelessness have taken over. For yet others, today is the day the message comes, “the king has had a dream and is sending for you.” Wherever you fit in this predictable story, I invite you to adopt the perspective and faith of Joseph. Hold fast to the promise that God loves you and is working on your rescue.
“When two full years had passed, Pharaoh sent for Joseph.”
Genesis 41:1, 14
When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream…
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph…
“When two full years had passed…”
I have to admit, I’m not a very patient person. I like to make things happen, pull the trigger, get things going. It drives me a little crazy to sit in a committee or among a group of people for the second or third time, only to discuss the same problems and brainstorm the same solutions, while no one has done anything about them in the meantime. What are we waiting for, people?
Even harder for me? When someone has made a commitment that affects a range of decisions I’m considering, it’s hard to resist acting on that promise and moving forward on the assumption they will follow through. Wisdom and experience tell me to wait until the “chickens are hatched” before acting. But it’s hard to resist. Oh, the waiting.
We’ve all experienced dark days when the job offer doesn’t materialize as promised, the pay raise is derailed, or the offer on the house falls through. Maybe the challenges you’ve faced include a fiancé changing their mind, a spouse walking away, or a baby lost before birth. Beyond being painful, these experiences teach us to view the world through cynical eyes, minimize hope, and check out on faith.
Today’s passage in Genesis 41 echoes a pattern repeated throughout Scripture. The pain and problems of today may seem insurmountable, but “when two full years had passed…” something happens. Abraham might be unsure of where he is going, but “when two full years had passed,” God showed him the land of promise. Moses might be pinned between the Egyptians and the Red Sea, but “when two full years had passed,” the sea parted, and a path was made. The walls of Jerusalem may have crumbled, and depression may have taken hold of Nehemiah’s heart, but “when two full years had passed,” the king sent him with the time, money, and authority to rebuild the walls. Jesus may be buried in a tomb, but “when two full years had passed,” the stone rolled away, and he arose again.
Maybe you are at the beginning of this cycle, when a promise fills you with hope, and you haven’t had time for disappointment. Others of us have waited so long since the promise was made that despair and hopelessness have taken over. For yet others, today is the day the message comes, “the king has had a dream and is sending for you.” Wherever you fit in this predictable story, I invite you to adopt the perspective and faith of Joseph. Hold fast to the promise that God loves you and is working on your rescue.
“When two full years had passed, Pharaoh sent for Joseph.”
- When someone tells you they have a surprise for you and asks whether you want to know what it is before it arrives, how do you respond? Why do you think you react that way?
- What have you wished for that took so long you gave up hope, only to have it turn out well in the end? What have you learned from that experience?
- What are you in the middle of right now that feels discouraging and makes you wonder whether you will ever find relief? What would you like to say to Jesus about it?
Written by Pastor Pastor Dave Ferguson
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