Intervention

“Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’” Genesis 41:15

Joseph in Egypt—a member of Israel in danger. Exiled. Prison. But God intervenes. A dream. Divine appointment. Joseph appears before the Pharaoh and interprets the dream. Joseph, and thus the twelve tribes, are lifted up to an exalted position in Egypt. Saved from prison; saved from famine. Prosperity in a foreign land. God intervenes! God saves!

“In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, ‘I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.’… At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.” Daniel 2:1-3, 16

Once again, Israel is in a foreign land. Exiled. And now, confusion. Had they so transgressed that God had abandoned them? Were the Babylonian gods stronger than Yahweh, so that Yahweh’s people were taken away into exile? Were they forsaken? Was Yahweh’s presence and power limited to the Promised Land? Was he still with them?

But once again, God’s fingerprints show up in history, in time and space. A dream. Divine appointment. Hope in the exiles’ hearts begin to stir. Their memorized Torah whispers hope. They remember the story of Joseph. Maybe? Maybe?

God intervenes! His pattern—king, dream, interpretation—speaks volumes of his power and faithfulness. They are still Israel. He is still their God. He still saves. He is King over Babylon, just as he was King over Egypt. The Israelites’ heads are lifted. There is a new spring in their step! Their God! Their God!

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

    to whom belong wisdom and might.

He changes times and seasons;

    he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

    and knowledge to those who have understanding;

he reveals deep and hidden things;

    he knows what is in the darkness,

    and the light dwells with him.

To you, O God of my fathers,

    I give thanks and praise.”

Daniel 2:20b-23a

Once again, God’s people in a foreign land (1 Pet. 2:11). Our citizenship is in heaven. We wander as pilgrims. But we wander in a new security, for we have no doubt God is with us and for us. We have seen his pattern etched in history. We have seen the one who both Joseph and Daniel foreshadowed—Jesus, the true Mediator before the one and only King, the King of heaven and earth. Jesus appears before his throne, mediating on our behalf, saving his people.

This is the God we trust, the God who paints patterns in history to stir hope in his people, who intervenes time and time again on behalf of his people, the God who is faithful. The God who is sovereign over ISIS, the Middle East, Iran, airplanes, the economy. The God who cares about a single man in prison; the God who cares about the life of four exiled friends, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The God who is zealous to protect his people. The God who is sovereign over our health, financial crises, broken relationships, marriages teetering, cancer diagnoses, addictions, children wandering from the Lord. He intervened in Christ. He saved in Christ. He still intervenes. He still saves. We read Joseph and Daniel, and see the fingerprints of our God in our lives as well. Faithful.