Article: Open Store – 2

Greetings to all the saints, in the name of our Lord!

Our life is full of rich experiences. Happiness and sadness make our experiences meaningful. Happiness and sadness are decided by the eventuality of our expectations.

The Pharaoh had a dream that spoilt his sleep, at a time when the land of Egypt was going ahead peacefully and happily, without facing any troubles. A panic stricken Pharaoh commanded the magicians and the scholars to interpret the dream. When they failed to give an accurate interpretation of the dream, it turned to be the time of freedom for Joseph, through Pharaoh’s chief butler. God made possible, the exoneration of Joseph!

Joseph was hoping for his freedom, from the day when the chief butler was released from the prison. When the dreams of the butler and the baker become true within three days, Joseph had to wait for 20 years for the fulfilment of his dream. Dear men of God, do we have such a waiting?  Hadn’t we had asked, ‘when, if not now’?  When the fulfilment of God’s promises are delayed, it shall not be counted as denied. Instead, as we read in Hebrews 6:12, ‘That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises’, God will fulfil the promises in due time.  God gives us promises because He loves us.  ‘For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise’.-Hebrews 10:36.  Delays are not denials!  Expectation alone cannot help us to attain patience!

If the chief butler had remembered Joseph, at the time of his release, he might have gone back to Canaan, or gone in search of his livelihood.  In such case, there was no chance for the repentance of his brothers.  They would not have overcome the hardships caused by the famine.  Moreover, God’s plan would not have worked.

Friends, God has kept an assigned time for everything.  God knows which path is to be closed and which one to be opened, in order to execute His plans for us.  We should never forget to thank God, even though our dear ones forget us.  When door of hope is found closed, we should realize that God is going to do great things for us.  Just like God opened a way for Ishmael in the wilderness, He will open our ways on the appropriate time.

In Genesis 41:38, Pharaoh says, ‘can we find such  a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?’.

When Pharaoh was shaken by the dream, he happened to listen to the testimony of the chief butler.  He commanded to bring Joseph, as there developed a trust in his heart about Joseph.  This trust was formed due to the testimony of the chief butler.  When he felt to hang a man, Pharaoh did so immediately.  When he felt to reinstate the other man, it too was done immediately.  A man of pride and stubbornness, who lives according to his wishes, is now in a disturbed state due to a dream!

His heart was troubled, until Joseph was brought from prison, to meet him.  God employed Joseph, when the scholars of the country failed to interpret the dream.  As Pharaoh had dreamt twice, all were under a fear about an impending danger.  A spirit of fear haunted them.

Joseph says to Pharaoh that God shall bring an answer of peace.  The nature of a man with the spirit of God is that he will always do the ministry of peace to others!

My friends, this is the time our society needs people like Joseph.  The world is in trouble.  When a gentile king who had no knowledge of God, was in need, God prepared Joseph to help him.  Even now, God is looking for people like Joseph.

Let us recall our past which was filled with darkness, and how God hold our hands, lifted us up from the dark dungeon and brought us to the sparkling light.  If your hearts contain the love of God that brought you out from the troublesome dungeon, let us open in for others.  Let our hearts be the storehouses.  Let us rely upon God, so as to enable us to share the love and peace of God with those who are in trouble.

Joseph not only interpreted the dream, but also gave the solution for the problem!  Are our storehouses ready to provide solution for the problems of others who are helpless and desperate due to their problems?

Let us commit ourselves to God, so as to be able to keep peace among us, to keep ourselves blameless until God’s wish is fulfilled in us and to be fellow workers of His kingdom.

May the grace of God be with you!