Introduction:
This series takes a creative approach to the Joseph stories. Each day’s reflection imagines what one of the characters might have written in both their diary and their memoirs about the events in that day’s Scripture passage. While this approach sometimes requires us to “fill in the blanks” a bit with regard to what the characters are thinking and feeling, every effort has been made to stay as close to the Bible’s details as possible. The diary/memoir approach underscores how we often perceive—or don’t perceive—God’s hand in our lives.
In Your Dreams
Read: Genesis 40
Do not interpretations belong to God?
(v. 8 NRSV)
If Joseph had written in his diary after he had interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker, what might he have said? DIARY: When I encouraged them to tell me their dreams, I was hoping God would have good news for both of them. They were so upset and clearly didn’t have a clue. When I gave the cupbearer the news that he’d soon be back in Pharaoh’s good graces, it got everyone’s hopes up. But then it was the baker’s turn. There was no way to spin that dream so that it would come out well. Three days later the dreams came true. When, I wonder, will MY dreams come true?
If Joseph had written in his memoirs years after this experience, what might he have said? MEMOIR: Looking back on it, I’m not sure if it was faith, arrogance, or desperation that prompted me to offer to interpret their dreams. I was never short of confidence in those days, but I’d been through enough by that time to know that God works in mysterious ways. So I offered, God gave me the interpretations, and you know the rest. But then the cupbearer forgot about me! Two years I sat in that prison—waiting, hoping, and praying. It gave me a lot of time to think, especially about my own dreams as a boy. How could I know then that God was about to make them come true?
Prayer: Send us faithful friends, God, who will speak your truth into our lives. Give us patience as we wait for clarity.