The Bible. Are you intimidated at the thought of reading such a complicated book? Do you find it

daunting or delightful or both? Welcome to the club. The Bible Book Club, where we read every word

of this great book and then dig in and study it together.

We are right in the middle of Joseph's journey. And what a journey it's been. God has been preparing Joseph for leadership in prison. And leadership in prison. Those two things

don't seem like they go together, but they do. Just listen, it's going to be so much fun.

So Joseph has interpreted the dreams of the baker and the cup bearer. The baker was killed. The cup bearer. He regained his position just like Joseph said he would.

But he forgot about Joseph for two long years until Pharaoh started dreaming. And then Joseph was called to interpret. They remembered him. He predicted a seven-year famine. And then he laid out a strategy for Pharaoh to follow. And then he got the job. Have you ever gotten the job when you did a really good job on a job interview? That was like the ultimate job interview. And he got it. Yay. And it was a big jump.

And so he was promoted from prison to the palace. Exactly. And now we find our hero.

Exactly. We're in chapter 42 and 43. And our young boy Joseph has grown up and has grown

into his gifts just in time. In the past, remember when he was young,

17, he was too open with his brothers about what he saw in his dreams and what he thought

in his heart. Not so anymore. He knows when to play his cards. And today, he will hold those

cards with tremendous discipline and wisdom. Now I want to pause there and talk

about wisdom and discipline because they are a big thing in the Bible. And these are two traits

that I really admire in Joseph because I struggle with wisdom and discipline. Oh, that is so not true.

No, it is true. You are one of the most wisdom-ish people I know.

But it's an effort for me because I speak too often and too impulsively.

I don't take enough time to ponder and pray.

And Joseph is our example because he has been forced for over 10 years to learn to wait patiently in prison, to hold his cards and wait for God's hand of opportunity.

And that's hard for me. I want to jump in. And so Joseph, once a little unwise in his presentation at 17,

is now wise beyond his years at 30. There are 219 verses in the Bible about wisdom. So again, it's a big deal. Fifty-five alone

in Proverbs. And in Proverbs two, just one little proverb, there are six verses dedicated to

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