A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. (Genesis 41:12 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Be Patient
A few months ago we bought some extendable Marshmello roasting forks. Gradually, the pile of forks moved from the kitchen counter, to the entrance-way table, to the front porch, to the storage trunk. And… there… they… stayed.
I will not quite say that we forgot about those forks. But I also can not say we remembered them.
Then we had some friends over for a S’mores night. And suddenly those forks were brought out, to much fanfare. Those forks, long languishing in the trunk, now were useful, necessary, and popular! Suddenly they were noticed, elevated, and praised.
IF those roasting forks could think, feel, and speak… I think I know what they would have thought, felt, and said. While waiting, “when will the Pennings remember us? Here we wait, forgotten, disrespected, and useless…” But when they were brought out and anointed with Marshmellos? They would have said, “Our patience has born fruit! We wait no longer! We should have known we were not forgotten!”
Joseph would have understood those forks. He knew what it was like to be useful but forgotten, important but neglected, valuable but ignored.
God has a use for each of us that is better than merely roasting Marshmellos. He has a job for each of us in His kingdom. He has a fantastic purpose for each of us… even when it seems we have been forgotten.
I do not know what God is waiting for. But His planning is better than mine. His organization is better than mine. His understanding of the times is better than mine.
The forks were patient and saved the S’mores. Joseph was patient and saved his family. The second Person of the Trinity was patient and saved His people.
Fear not, then be patient.