The St. Louis Rams entered the 1999 season after posting the NFL’s worst record of the 1990s. Their quarterback, Kurt Warner, had been stocking grocery-store shelves just five years earlier. After playing in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe, Warner finally got his opportunity and led the Rams to a Super Bowl championship.

Looking back, Warner said, “I believe the Lord has a plan for each of us that’s better than anything we can imagine, even if that plan isn’t obvious to us at every stage.” His years of waiting had been years of preparation.

Genesis 41 – Prepared Privately

Joseph understood waiting. Two years had passed since he interpreted the cupbearer’s dream in prison. The cupbearer had forgotten Joseph, but God had not.

When Pharaoh had two dreams that none of Egypt’s wise men could interpret, the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Brought from prison before Pharaoh, Joseph did not promote himself. He said, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Genesis 41:16).

After years in obscurity, Joseph gave the glory to God when his opportunity came.

Pharaoh recognized Joseph’s wisdom and made him ruler of Egypt, second only to himself. In a single day, Joseph went from prisoner to ruler. The pit, slavery, false accusation, and prison had not been wasted. They were God’s training ground, preparing Joseph to preserve His covenant people.

Joseph named his first son Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship.” He named his second Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:51–52).

Joseph still called Egypt “the land of my affliction,” but he now saw his past through God’s faithfulness.