Genesis 41:1-14

After two full years of days went by, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

² and see, there came up out of the Nile seven fat and healthy cows, and they fed in the reed grass.

³ And see, after them seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.

⁴ And the ugly, thin cows devoured the fat and healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

⁵ But he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And see, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.

⁶ And see, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind.

⁷ And the thin ears devoured the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh woke up, and see, it was a dream.

⁸ So in the morning his spirit was disturbed, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one was able to explain them to Pharaoh.

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded that I have sinned.

¹⁰ When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in the prison house,

¹¹ we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own explanation.

¹² There with us was a young Hebrew, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he explained our dreams to us, giving an explanation to each man according to his dream.

¹³ And as he explained to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was executed.”

¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And after he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.

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surrendering the schedule

Two full years of days is a long time to wait, but sometimes that is how God works. In fact, sometimes it takes much longer than that for the next step in his plan. Think of Moses, who later waited in the Midian desert for 40 years between gigs in Egypt. That time is not wasted, because the LORD knows how to prepare Joseph during that time. Joseph had to let God be sovereign over his schedule, and not allow bitterness to grow within him.

LORD, give us the grace to respond appropriately when we are sidelined. Help us to surrender our schedules to you.