Genesis 40:8    “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”  Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

**********                                                                                                                                                A Day to remember:  Seven years ago today, our 7 month pregnant daughter-in-love Stephanie (Michael’s wife) went to be with the Lord in the wee hours of the morning.  Their newborn son, Declan Parker, was in the local NICU for 67 days before joining his mother.                                                                                                                                             **********

Joseph asked these two men, “Why are your faces so sad today?”  They responded by telling him that they each had a dream and they didn’t know what the dreams meant and they thought there wasn’t anyone to interpret them.  Because Joseph asked the question, he was in a position to address their concern.

This event of Joseph interpreting their dreams would later play a crucial role in Joseph becoming Governor of Egypt.  But let’s take a moment to reflect on the sequence of events that were responsible for Joseph being there.

Joseph encountered these two prisoners because they had been assigned to his care.  He was able to ask them his question, because he was in prison with them.  He was in prison because Potiphar’s wife lied.  She lied because Joseph refused to sin with her.  He was in her house because he was a slave purchased by Potiphar, her husband.  He was purchased by Potiphar because his brothers sold him into slavery.  He was sold into slavery because God sent him ahead.  Joseph was God’s man to deal with the coming famine.

God chose the path that Joseph needed to take – with all its pain and difficulty.  God was with him, blessing him – helping him.  Each step of the way, Joseph was exactly where God wanted him to be – and was faithful in allowing God to make him the man he was destined to be.

We have the same opportunity, just much different circumstances.  There are all manner of challenging and difficult things that God will take us through in accomplishing His purposes and transforming us into the image of Jesus.  Our focus must be on Him and not on ourselves or our difficulties.  By responding to the Spirit working in us, our lives increasingly speak of the love and wonder of our God.  We are able to joyfully follow Him, wherever He leads, and endure any difficulties in order to become the men and women He wants us to be – and to be His hands extended to those we encounter.