Genesis 41:37-42 
Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. (NLT)

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God dreams better dreams for us than we dream for ourselves. Our finest fantasies cannot match the life of God’s dreams for us. 

Seventeen-year-old Joseph dreamed dreams that sounded like self-centered fantasies to his brothers and father. After Little Joe was threatened with death by those brothers and then sold into slavery by them, it probably felt like his dreams were something of a mockery even to himself. 

Then things went from bad to worse when his signature success put him in a position to be unjustly accused and imprisoned. Talk about the death of your dreams!

Then, when he had the prison running smoothly and interpreted dreams for two officials whose dreams came true, one to one’s eternal regret, he was left behind when they were recalled.

Then, Pharaoh had dreams that none of his wise men could interpret. Little Joe’s old prison buddy, who had dreamed the good dream and was restored to his position, remembered Joe and told Pharaoh. That’s when we see what happened next in the text above. 

Turn the page to Genesis 42, and we see Prime Minister Joseph’s dream come true. Verse 9 says, “And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before.”

How long has it been since you heard God’s purpose for your life? Does it feel like “many years” since he gave you a dream, a promise, a purpose? If we were to ask Joseph if it is worth whatever wait necessary to see God’s purpose fulfilled, what do you think he would say? 

Some things are worth the wait. God’s promises are worth whatever time they take to come true. 

There’s a scene in the movie Field of Dreams that passes pretty quickly. It appears a Christmas party is going on. Ray is looking out the window through the snow at the baseball field. His wife turns from her conversation to see him sitting there. Ray is obviously wondering if his dream will ever come true. 

That has been me. That has been you. It may be you today. It’s good to remember that God’s delays are not denials. If he made a promise, if he gave you a dream, lean into it. Get the education. Practice and prepare. Become who you need to be when your moment comes. 

Little Joe’s survival, service, and steadiness ensured his readiness when his moment came. 

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I will prepare for my next assignment from God’s heart and for his glory.

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Our Father, you are worth any wait. You are worth any struggle. You are worthy of all my praise. May the rest of my life become an act of thanksgiving for all you have done in me. Amen.