Earlier this year, one of my baby nephews needed some major surgery or he would die. I could do nothing but pray and support my sister from a distance. While her family was going through that difficult time, I was reading about Joseph’s life and this is what I learned: God is my sufficiency; He is enough and overabundant in our trials.
Genesis 45:4-8 “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But 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.”
God needed to get Joseph to Egypt.
How did He do it?
By taking Joseph on a journey of trials. This journey of trials started with dreams given by Elohim. This wasn’t to humble him, but to refine and prepare him. Joseph, in chapter 37, was simply a 17-year-old little brother excited to tell his family about some crazy and cool dreams he had, wondering what they could mean. This is expected behaviour. He was probably looking for understanding, clarification, and affirmation. Unfortunately for him, he was the favourite of his father, and so his brothers were already jealous of him. They all mocked him for it. His dreams of his brothers bowing down to him really infuriated them. Joseph was judged and ridiculed by his brothers, as well as his father, simply for having these dreams.
Remember: dreams are not something we can control. God gave these prophetic dreams.
Think about this for a minute: —–Elohim started this journey of trials. This is our El-Shaddai who walks with us through every single trial we will ever face. Not only is He present, but He is everything we need in those trials. He is our Sufficiency.
These dreams, given by God, pushed his brothers over the edge of their jealousy and at the first opportunity, they got rid of him. In this, God was present. He provided an escape from the death they had planned through the slave traders. These slave traders brought Joseph to Egypt, exactly the country where God wanted Joseph to be. He was bought by the captain of the guard so that when he was thrown in (the right) jail later, he would be in the right place to meet Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. Joseph needed to be in the right place at the right time to hear their dreams, so that later, when Pharaoh had a dream that filled him with fear and uncertainty, Joseph would be in the right place (prison) to be called upon and show this foreign king who Jehovah really is!
Why did Joseph need to go to Egypt?
He needed to be there to get the baby nation, which was only 70 persons in Genesis 46:27, down to Egypt, to a place of safety. In Egypt, while in slavery, this small group became almost 2 million! God took them to Egypt to multiply! Being in and walking through a trial is sometimes a protection from God. Even in a trial, we are in the safest place we can be; held in the palm of God’s hand. While enslaved, 
they became strong in numbers. When Israel left Egypt 430 years later, they numbered 600,000 men (Ex 12:37)! This figure did not include children or wives. If every man had one wife and one child, that would bring the number to 1.8 million. For visualization purposes, the population of the city of Montreal is currently approximately 1.6 million.
God gave Joseph the dreams to start the process of sending him to Egypt. The goal was for Joseph to become the second-in-command in Egypt. But the journey to get there was very painful. Yet, it was the right journey for all involved.
Joseph spent his youth in slavery and/or prison, from age 17 to 30. He worked hard, honoured and trusted Elohim, no matter the circumstances. It didn’t matter to him who owned him or was his overseer; Joseph honoured God alone. It didn’t matter what temptation came or how high his position was, God was his refuge, his strength, his sufficiency. And God blessed everything that he touched. People saw it and gave him responsibility. Joseph was not shy about telling people that it was his God who gave the meaning of dreams. God is the one who set the stage to put His man as second in command of one of the most powerful nations of their time.
God showed the whole nation of Egypt that He is the one who gives dreams and knows the future, including the weather. We don’t know how many people may have chosen to follow Elohim, the God of Joseph, at this time. God placed Joseph in a position to reveal Himself to a whole kingdom while also positioning him to protect the infant nation of Israel.
Not only is God present in the midst of trials, He is also in control of them and the final outcome. Nothing in our lives is wasted; everything has its purpose. God has a purpose and plan in every situation.
So how did this apply to my sister’s baby? Well, if God is in control of even the trials, then I would trust that no matter the outcome for my nephew, God had him in His hands. And God would carry each one of us through the trial, with the care for our hearts that we needed. Today, that little nephew is thriving. It doesn’t mean that the hard things are over, but El-Shaddai is still in control and I will trust Him.
By: Rachel Layoun
