Gen 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

Genesis 41 records how Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt. Two years had passed by since Joseph interpreted the dreams of the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh. The chief butler had been in his position for over two years. But he had forgotten about Joseph. The light at the end of the tunnel appeared some two years later for Joseph. Pharaoh had a dream. He was troubled and summoned all his magicians and wise men to interpret the dream. No one was able to interpret his dream. It was then the chief butler remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh about the Hebrew slave that could interpret dreams. Joseph was summoned to appear before Pharaoh. He interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. He was promoted to second in command in Egypt. It was a long wait for Joseph but it was worthwhile. Have you ever experienced a crisis in your life? Persecution? Retrenchment? Sickness? Financial? Relationship? Mental? Emotional? Business failure? Well, you are not alone. I have lived through two recessions in my working life, one in 1985 and the other in 2008. The 2008 recession was hailed as our nation’s worst recession since its independence. It happened as a result of the banking crisis in the United States. I can assure our young readers that walking through any of those two recessions was not fun. My advice to youth is: don’t over invest. Don’t assume you will have the same income and gainfully employed for the next thirty years. Banks will lend you money and let you slowly pay for thirty years. However, they are merciless and will take back your house when you default on your payments. Your jobs are not guaranteed! Our response to any of the trials that life throws at us will reveal our character, spiritual maturity, strength, and weakness. Most of all, it will reveal the depth of our relationship with God! Joseph walked with God yet he was in prison. Did he ever doubt God’s existence because of what had happened to him? No! He told Portiphar’s wife who was trying to tempt him to sin: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9b). Joseph did not quit on God in spite of his “evil” circumstances. Many in his situation would think that God had left them. Joseph knew God never left him. In fact, the Scripture says that when Joseph was in prison, “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper” (Genesis 39:21-23). God was all along with Joseph. Joseph did not focus his attention on the prison walls; he focused on the blessings that he had been receiving. Like Joseph, we might go through dark times and have to deal with being forgotten. But we must always remember that when we stick with God, He’ll do the same for us as He did for Joseph. I thank God for the faithful brothers and sisters who are here today. They survived the recessions. They survive the divisions that happened in this congregation. They trusted in God; they never quit. They emerged stronger, and they are better off today than before. They that trust in God shall see light: “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36:9). Can you see the light?