January 16 2026 - Genesis 40-42

Not due to any wrong doing on his part, Joseph found himself in jail and in a pickle.  A good reminder that, sometimes, bad things happen to good people.  This is one of those stories that encourage us by reminding that justice is ultimately in God’s hands.  In the prison with Joseph were “the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker [who had] committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt” (40:1).  Not a good thing to get on the bad side of the king!   These two dreamed, and Joseph interpreted their dreams.  Word ultimately got to Pharaoh, who himself had had dreams, about Joseph’s ability.  Well, that’s not exactly correct, is it?  It wasn’t so much that Joseph was talented, as he put it to Pharaoh:  “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (41:6).  And Joseph interpreted and told of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, and Pharaoh said to him, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt” (41:41), second in power only to Pharaoh himself.  With great famine in Canaan, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain only to have to return to Egypt a second time because they had been hoodwinked by Joseph.  More on that as the story continues.  For now, two thoughts:  One, it is good to be obedient and faithful to God even when wronged, and two, God does not forget his promises and always makes good on them.  Even through severe famine, the line of Abraham would continue by virtue of God’s amazing providential working.

O God, your constant care and love

are shed upon us from above,

throughout our lives in every stage,

from infancy to later age.

All time is yours, O Lord, to give;

may we, in all the years we live,

find every day of life is new,

a celebration, Lord, with you.   --H. Glen Lanier (1976)