47 Days of Justice 2024 - Day 38: When the time is right, justice is restored.

“So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭40:9-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God is a triune (made of three parts) Being, manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: One God, forever holy. Indeed—created in God’s image—we are triune beings, manifested as body, soul, and spirit. Jesus was raised from the dead after three days. Jesus was also tempted of the devil three days. Jonah was in the whale three days. The Ark of the Covenant had three objects in it: Aaron’s branch that sprouted; the jar of manna; and the tablets of the Law. Yes, the number three appears many times in scripture, always seemingly associated with something having been complete, or completed.

Consider this scripture:

“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the above passage the Lord is promising restoration for His people when the process of their refining is complete. Yes, the Lord’s ways are perfect and He does what He does when the time is right. But only He knows when the time is right.

The concept of God’s timing not necessarily being that of our own is found throughout the Bible. The Lord’s “right time” may feel past due to those who are waiting for justice.

The writer of Hebrews, in addressing those who had been subjected to great injustices because of their alignment with Christ, encourages them to stay the course in order to receive the promise.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In our opening scripture we see that the Egyptian King’s cupbearer and baker had apparently been charged with the same offense; but, the cupbearer was innocent of the charge!

Although they had been in the prison for quite a while, Joseph, in interpreting the cupbearer’s dream, sees that the cupbearer will return to his position, “within three days.” Indeed, those three days represented the fact that the process toward the restoration of justice for the cupbearer was coming to completion.

Now, what must we glean from this? God is never early or late. Justice (seemingly) delayed, is never denied. When the process is complete (again, only God knows when this is), justice will be dispensed.

Justice for the baker would look very different. We’ll look into that later. Meanwhile, all Joseph has asked from the cupbearer is that he make mention of Joseph to the king. I wonder how that will turn out….

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#resolveforhim #47DaysOfJustice