Why is God taking so Long?

Read Genesis 41.

Joseph became a forgotten man in prison.  Two more years went by.  At that time, God gave Pharaoh a troublesome dream and no one could help him.  Verse 9:  "Then", suddenly, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and his God-given gift of interpreting dreams.

After 13 years of various sufferings, Joseph was ready to leave his slavery and his imprisonment to become the second most powerful man on earth and lead Egypt to become the world's greatest food supplier of the time.  He was 30 years old.  His words to Pharaoh demonstrate a very different man than the arrogant, tattle-tailing teenager his own family despised.  Instead of the proud spirit of his youth, Joseph's first recorded words out of prison are, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."

Next, Pharaoh knew he needed a top administrator to handle the coming years of abundance and famine.  His questioned, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?"  Then, he answered his own question: "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are" (vv.38-39).  What a change in how Joseph is characterized!  God did not change His plans for Joseph; He changed Joseph through the things that he suffered.

Over the next 7 years, Joseph married and had two sons.  To know what he was thinking about his life one need only to look at how he named his children: Forgetful and Fruitful.  "God has made me forget..." the past.  "God has made me fruitful..." at last.  Those are powerful life messages.

God is always on time.  He is never late.  Two quotes from Dr. Ike Reighard: "While we are waiting, God is always working."  "If it does not appear that God is working around us then He is probably working in us."