“When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, ² when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. ³ After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. ⁴ And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. ⁵ He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. ⁶ After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. ⁷ The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. ⁸ In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.”  Genesis 41:1-8

When two whole years had passed…  This is how the Genesis text begins this day, chapter 41, verse 1. For two years Joseph sat in the prison, waiting for something to happen. Joseph had interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. He asked the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh, but it did not come to pass. And so he waited, and waited, and waited. How often do we feel like Joseph, waiting for something good to happen?  Waiting for a new job opportunity – waiting for a new relationship – waiting for a change, any change at all. We often feel like we are in prison, the prison of  waiting, the prison of doubt and despair.  But, patient waiting bears out the day for Joseph, for his opportunity to serve G-d and to serve the people finally comes to him.

Jesus says, “whoever wishes to be great among you must first be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave.” Joseph learned to be a servant for the Lord, as well as a servant for people. Jesus will fulfill the “Suffering Servant” passages we hear from Isaiah in the cross event. We have models for living the servant life, and for being patient for the Lord. It is not always easy, but being a servant in any capacity is neither alluring, nor is it first on our wish list. But when we consider what Jesus did for you and me, then living the Christ-like life of service for others becomes less of a chore, and more of a challenge.

Pastor Dave