If we are honest, every Christian can admit to times when they have felt like the prayer they have been praying will never be answered. Or as though the promises of God will never be fulfilled in their life. But we must always remember that God works things for not only our good but often for our best. As well as the best for those around us. So answers to prayers and fulfillment of promises may not come when we expect or hope. But in time God will do it for us. Just as He did for those who came before us in the faith and will continue to do for those who trust in Him.
No life better exemplifies this than the life of Joseph. A man who lived with a great promise from God in His life but had to wait until the right time for everything to come together. As a young man, he received a dream that showed his whole family bowing down to him one day. However, this did not take place overnight but in time God made it so. As a much older man, his brothers came and kneeled before him requesting his provision.
Genesis 37:5–8 (ESV)
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
Genesis 42:6 (ESV)
6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
While that was the longest time Joseph spent waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled it was not the only time he found Himself waiting. While he served his time in prison under false accusations he met a butler and a baker. Two men had previously worked directly for Pharaoh. Both of which dreamed dreams that Joseph was able to interpret.
Joseph told the butler he would receive his position back before Pharaoh. He also asked the man to remember him before Pharaoh and to bring the case of his wrongful imprisonment before him. Joseph hoped he would then be released and could return to his own land.
Genesis 40:12–13 (ESV)
12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer.
Joseph was right and the cupbearer was returned to his position. You can only imagine the anticipation that Joseph must have felt upon seeing this. Believing that soon the butler would bring up his case to Pharaoh and he would be set free. His prayers would finally be answered and he would be allowed to return to his father. However, it wasn’t the right time for Joseph to be brought before Pharaoh as the cupbearer quickly forgot Joseph.
Genesis 40:20–21 (ESV)
20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
Genesis 40:23 (ESV)
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Yet in time the Lord did answer Josephs’s prayer. A full two years later Pharaoh dreamed a dream and need an interpretation. This caused the butler to remember Joseph. He told Pharaoh of how Joseph had interpreted his dream and how the interpretation was true.
Genesis 41:9 (ESV)
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today.
Genesis 41:13 (ESV)
13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
Upon hearing this Pharaoh called for Joseph to be brought before him. Joseph was able to interpret the dream of Pharaoh just as he had done for the others. Pharaoh in turn appointed Joseph to the highest position in the land second only to him. God placed him right where he wanted him just at the right time.
Genesis 41:40–44 (ESV)
40 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.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
God could have had Joseph released at any time but doing so would not have fulfilled the greater purpose He placed in Josephs’s life. Had he been set free when the cupbearer was brought back before pharaoh then he would have probably just returned to his father. But because everything happened in God’s time Joseph received a high position. Which enabled him to rescue the Egyptian people as well as his own people during a seven-year famine.
Genesis 45:5–8 (ESV)
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Joseph lived a life that shows that in time God will always fulfill His promises and answer prayers. In time Joseph became the man who the Lord showed him he would be. In time God answered his prayers and rescued him from prison. Orchestrating everything at just the right time to accomplish the greatest good for everyone. Just as his word says we will always do.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Waiting is hard. Just imagine how it felt for Joseph to sit day after day in prison. Waiting for someone to come and release him from his cell. Wondering if the dream of his youth was nothing more than a dream. Yet he blessed beyond his wildest dreams because he still trusted in the Lord.
In time God will do what ha he said he will do in your life. In time the Lord will answer the prayers you have been praying. Don’t give up just look to the life of Joseph and see the blessing that comes from waiting on the Lord. God is with you in your situation and in time you will see His effects on your life.
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