Only in the Movies—and the Sovereignty of God (Part 2)

I love all the ways God speaks to us through His Word, a message, a song, or perhaps in the movies.

Next week I’m sharing highlights from She Speaks, Proverbs 31 Ministries conference for writers and speakers. Because the ways God spoke to me resonated deep in my spirit. And words sure to touch your heart.

But today we go back to the movies.

Read part 1 here, Only in the Movies—and the Sovereignty of God (Part 1).

Part 2  By Dianne Barker

Are you grieving over sidetracked dreams? Has reality stolen your hope? Then read on to discover the rest of Joseph’s story and learn four ways to wait on God.

Recap: Joseph was seventeen when his jealous older brothers sold him to an Ishmaelite caravan headed to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of the king, bought Joseph to work in his house. Yet, noticing the Lord gave the young servant success in everything, he placed Joseph in charge of his household.

Just Like in the Movies

But Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph.

When he rejected her advances, she lied to her husband—and that scenario landed Joseph in prison. Even there, God gave him favor and caused him to prosper.

So everything changed overnight. Well, not exactly overnight. It transpired over 4,745 bleak nights—thirteen dreary years after his brothers sidetracked his dream. Pharaoh had two dreams about fat cows and lean cows, but no one knew the meaning. And God set the stage for what happened next. Pharaoh’s predicament reminded the butler of a young man he’d met in prison who interpreted his dream. The king sent for Joseph, now thirty.

Resume production.

Scene one: Joseph, changing clothes and shaving, a perplexed look on his face.

Scene two: Joseph, standing before the king. “I hear you can interpret dreams.”

“I can’t, but God can,” Joseph said.

When I face something difficult, I remember this: I can’t, but God can. #blog #God Share on X

Then Pharaoh related the dreams, and Joseph explained God planned to do something huge. The dreams foreshadowed seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of severe famine.

Dreams and Movies 

So Joseph recommended a plan: store grain during plentiful seasons to feed the people during famine. And he suggested Pharaoh select a wise man to supervise the process. The ruler discerned Joseph to be such a man, one led by the Spirit of God, and made him governor over all the land, second only to himself in authority.

Scene three: Joseph, selling grain to people streaming to Egypt from famine-stricken lands.

Jacob’s sons—except the youngest, Benjamin, who stayed home with their aged father—came to buy corn. They bowed down to Joseph, as he’d dreamed long ago. But over twenty years had passed and they didn’t recognize him. Yet, Joseph kept quiet while arranging events that troubled the men and made them think God was avenging their evil deed.

Flash forward: Joseph, overcome with emotion, revealing his identity as the brothers tremble in terror, expecting payback.

“Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,” Joseph said. “It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt” Genesis 45:5-7 NIV.

Cameras and Movies 

Camera zoom: Joseph, weeping and instructing his brothers to return home to Canaan and bring their father and their families to Egypt to survive the famine.

Camera fade: Joseph, embracing his aged father.

Flash forward seventeen years.

Scene one: Jacob, blessing his sons before his death.

Scene two: Worried brothers, convinced Joseph had postponed retribution for his father’s sake, sending a message that Jacob wanted him to forgive them. “We are your slaves,” they said, falling before him (Genesis 50:18).

Scene three: Joseph, reassuring his brothers.

“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them” Genesis 50:19-21 NIV. 

Camera fade: Sun setting over Goshen where Jacob’s children spend the rest of their lives growing in numbers and receiving God’s blessing.

 Roll the credits. 

Tag: In every scene Sovereign God followed His script. He chose Joseph for the role. Hard circumstances placed Joseph exactly where he needed to be for God’s mighty purpose (see Genesis 37-50)

Movies and God’s Script 

We discussed sidetracked dreams and stolen hope in the beginning of this post.

If God has given you a promise, remember this: you aren’t waiting on a person to change or an opportunity to come along or a circumstance to improve. You’re waiting on God. Meanwhile…

• Be faithful in this place, giving your best. Joseph prospered in prison.
• Keep a positive perspective. Discouragement is debilitating.
• Praise by a decision of the will. Read the Psalms and underline every I will.
• Trust God to deliver. He never fails.

Trust God to deliver. He never fails. #blog #God Share on X

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust” Psalm 40:1-4a NIV.

Your turn: in what ways do you wait on God? Tell us in the comments.

Dianne Barker is a radio host, speaker, and author of eleven books including the bestselling Twice Pardoned (life of Harold Morris). She’s a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, and Christian Women in Media Association. This post is adapted from Cabbages and Kings—Reflections on Living Abundantly in Christ. DianneBarker.com

© 2017 by Dianne Barker, All Rights Reserved

Blog photos courtesy of Adobe Spark.

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