Genesis 40

Spirit of the living God, breathe on us, our communities, our nations and on the church. May You do only what You can do in the lives of Your people. May their be a shift and change in season, comfort those who need comforting, provide for those with lack, may those seeking fruitfulness in their lives and their wombs manifest life - may the Word became flesh that they can behold in their hands in the name of Jesus. May those experiencing a spirit of heaviness and grief receive joy in the name of Jesus. Thank you that You are love. Love is not what You do, it is the very essence of who You are so we welcome You in the different spaces that we are in and we say may Your name be maginified in our lands and all over the world in the name of Jesus. We speak peace to nations with instability and every area that is experiencing war and turmoil. We ask that may Jesus reign and may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD for a change of season in the lives of your sons and daughters.

Today's Word is from Genesis 40. Joseph is now in prison but despite this negative experience, God's favor was still operating on his life. Two people happen to join the same prison Joseph was detained. Genesis 40:2-3 NKJV reads, "A Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined."

Both the chief butler and the chief baker happened to have dreams on the same day and when they woke up in the morning, they were sad. Joseph happens to find them in this state and cheers them up and asks them to share their dreams with him. In Genesis 40:8, "...So Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please."

This chapter portrays Joseph's growth, he was no longer a dreamer, but had also matured into a dream interpreter. It is clear that God refined him while he was away from his family and loved ones. When you look at Joseph's life, it may be safe to conclude that just like Jesus, Joseph grew in favor and wisdom both with God and men (Luke 2:52).

In my previous posts, we have been looking at some of the similarities between the traits that Jesus and Joseph may have shared. Another quality they shared was the rejection from their families. Joseph's brothers hated him (Genesis 37:4) while on the other hand, Jesus Christ was also rejected by the people in His hometown in Nazareth. In fact, we are told that He could not do mighty works there because of their unbelief (Mark 6:1-6). Just like Jesus had to leave his hometown to walk in the greatness that God had prepared for Him and His Kingdom, Joseph as well had to leave his father and brothers behind to mature into all that God had prepared for him which was not only for his individual benefit but to preserve Israel and the twelve tribes. If we remember correctly, all this started with a promise that God gave Abraham. The LORD God told him in Abraham's seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed and we know that this seed is Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16).

Joseph's captivity preserved the posterity of Israel that thousands of years later ushered the birth of Jesus Christ. Friend, the promises, plans and purposes that God has for your life super abundantly, exceed what you can ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20). You are part of the grand plan of heaven and the fulfilment of God's plans here on earth. This is how precious you are in God's eyes, to say the least so receive God's grace to do your part in the name of Jesus.

Back to the dreams in this chapter 40, Joseph gave the accurate interpretations of these dreams to the chief butler and the chief baker. In the course of time, three days to be exact, Joseph's dream interpretation came to pass. That is, the chief baker would be hanged by the king (Genesis 40:22) while the chief butler was restored to his original position which was to serve the king (Genesis 40:20). Joseph requested the chief butler to remember him when he was restored to his position by the king because he was innocent and did not deserve to be in prison.

However, Genesis 40:23 says, "Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him."

I'll end with this Word found in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV)

"9.For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

10.But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

AMEN. THANK YOU LORD.

Invitation to salvation: I invite you to make this confession that invites you to new covenant of love that is found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ where we get to have a personal relationship with God, the Father and your part and assignment in God's Kingdom is revealed. Please say the words below:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

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PS: In case you have not already, please remember to read Genesis 40 alongside this post in your personal devotional time and share your thoughts in the comments below!