Our Destiny is tied to us, as we live out the Lord’s leading in our lives.
Joseph lived at least twenty years of his life, away from his father and brothers, a long time to be separated. (Joseph was 17 years old and a shepherd in Canaan Genesis 37:2, he was thirty when he entered Pharaoh’s service, Genesis 41:46 and the seven good years passed. It was two years of famine before he saw his father brothers, Genesis 45:6)
42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ 2 He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’ Genesis 42
Jacob’s hand was forced by the famine, the family had to go to Egypt and buy food to survive. Joseph had no choice in all that happened to him and now God was working on the other end of the line; the family who’d sold Joseph into slavery now had to go down to Egypt. Jacob and his sons were God’s chosen people in the whole earth and it was imperative they went as He led them. Sometimes God’s leadings are non negotiable, we just have to obey.
7 As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognised them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. …8 Although Joseph recognised his brothers, they did not recognise him. 9 THEN HE REMEMBERED HIS DREAMS ABOUT THEM …
THEN, at that moment, he remembered his dreams ‘about them’. He realised that what he’d dreamt was coming to pass before his eyes, as they bowed before him. Genesis 42:6
God used his brothers’ jealousy to send Joseph towards his Destiny. His father Jacob also fled his family home, after he stole his brother’s blessing and also had a dream at Bethel of the angels going up and down the ladder to heaven. God had promised Jacob that he would bring him back to the land of Canaan.
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ Genesis 28:15
Both Jacob and Joseph spent long times away from their families during the formative years of their lives, so that God’s will would be accomplished through them.
Don’t be surprised if you have a Call from God on your life and circumstances seem to going a different way. God’s ways are not our ways and may involve personal cost to fulfill in our lives. Joseph dreamed of his brothers, father and mother bowing down before him, but he lived through twenty tough years alone in Egypt before it came to pass. He had to live that out, wondering why such things had happened to him. It may only be with the passing of time that we will understand God’s dealings in our own lives.
God is faithful, may He bless and keep you today.