“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.” Genesis 41:41-42.
I often revise the adverb, suddenly, to be a noun, ”suddenlies”, for events that quickly and decisively change our circumstances so that we now must address unforeseen challenges. “Suddenlies" are tests of faith and character orchestrated by God. The "suddenly” in this passage is a positive one where Joseph came into Pharaoh's presence and was asked to do an impossible task - to interpret a dream - after no other Egyptian wise man or advisor could do so. Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh's dream not because he studied for years or had extensive experience of dream interpretation (the Bible tells of only four other times when he did: twice for personal dreams, then the baker's and the cup bearer’s dreams). God uniquely gifted Joseph to interpret this Pharaoh’s particular dream, for this very moment in history.
The word destiny describes a predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control. Genuine faith carries with it a sense of destiny, that our lives are valuable and important and under the sovereign control of God. A reflective life gives us the ability to look back and see the hand of God orchestrating our experiences such that we are uniquely equipped for the challenges we presently face. The story of Joseph is one of the greatest “suddenlies" in human history; from prison to the palace, from prisoner to prime minister; it was a complete turn around. Joseph was asked to effectively run one of the most powerful nations on earth with no experience, a clouded past, and no apparent ability in public administration.
The Lord is the God of the turn around, who qualifies the unqualified, and promotes the least likely. Jesus' resurrection is the greatest "suddenly" in human history and we get to play a part in the grande finale of His sudden return. May we live with a sense of destiny that the Lord is using us to build His Kingdom today.