The Providence of God: The Plan

​The second part of Blog #3 continues with the providence of God and his plan for Joseph. In Genesis 37, we learn that when he was only seventeen, Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him, but instead through the providence of God he was left in a pit and sold into slavery and ended up in Egypt (genesis 37: 36). God’s providence allowed Joseph to prosper in all his ways. From the pit he ended up in Potiphar’s (the Pharaoh's captain of the guard) house and became the second in command (Genesis 39), even though an adulterous lie lands him in prison, God’s plan allowed Joseph to be promoted even in prison. In prison, Joseph had an opportunity to interpret the dreams of two inmates and the revelation of the dreams came true as he had said. In the providence of God, the released inmate later remembered Joseph’s accuracy when Pharaoh had dreams that no one else could interpret in Genesis 40. Joseph gives God the praise and relies on God to reveal the dream to him for Pharaoh (41: 16). 

God’s plan revealed the meaning of Pharaoh's dreams to Joseph. The dreams of fat and lean cows and fat and lean corn foretold seven years of plenty and seven years of famine in the land of Egypt (Genesis 41: 25-32). Pharaoh trusted the explanation of the dream and put Joseph in charge of managing the grain for all of Egypt in order to provide food for the land in the coming time of famine. In God’s plan, Joseph saved one-fifth of the grain in each year of plenty to prepare for the years of famine. This plan provided Egypt with a vast surplus of grain to feed the people and prevented starvation and disaster from the seven years of famine. Even Joseph’s family was able to be fed in Egypt through the providence of God (Genesis 42: 2). Joseph rose to power and authority from the pit, in Potiphar’s place, in prison, and in Pharaoh's palace (Genesis 45). Through it all Joseph blessed the Lord and was able to praise God for using him in the plan to save Israel (Genesis 45: 7). Next in Post #3c, we will look at purpose in the Providence of God.


As always thank you for visiting and be blessed, 

Pastor Kirkland