The roller coaster of life is real. The ups & downs, twists & turns, changes of pace, and even times of delay are all very real. And, while these can be frustrating & maddening, we are learning through the story of Joseph, that God had a precise reason for them all.
In Genesis 40 & 41 we read of Joseph’s unjust imprisonment. This is where we once again see God's providence when Joseph would meet two very important men who had both personally known and served Pharaoh, the King of Egypt. One man was Pharaoh’s cupbearer and the other man was Pharaoh’s baker.
Genesis tells us that these men were put into prison because they had offended Pharaoh. Both men had different dreams but were sad because they didn’t understand the meaning of their dreams. Joseph told them that God would enable him to interpret each of their dreams.
Joseph told the cupbearer that his dream meant he would be restored as Pharaoh’s servant in three days. Joseph then told the baker the awful interpretation of his dream. In three days, he would be hung on a tree, and the birds would eat the flesh off his bones.
Both dreams were literally fulfilled. Joseph did ask the cupbearer to do a favor for him: would he show kindness to Joseph and influence Pharaoh to get him out of prison (Genesis 40:14). He told the cupbearer that he had been put in prison and had done nothing to deserve being imprisoned.
Unfortunately for Joseph, when the cupbearer was restored as prophesied, he did not remember Joseph. In Genesis 40:23, it states that the cupbearer “FORGOT HIM” (Genesis 40:23). The cupbearer didn’t remember what Joseph had done for him for “TWO FULL YEARS”.
Joseph had to patiently endure the trial of being forgotten and remaining in prison. Certainly, this was a long time for Joseph to wait to be delivered by God. Pharaoh had two dreams that needed to be interpreted (Genesis 41;1-15).
The cupbearer finally remembered that Joseph could interpret dreams and told Pharaoh about Joseph’s ability. Pharaoh brought Joseph out of prison to interpret his dreams. God had not forsaken Joseph but would use him to assist Pharaoh. This would result in his great exaltation by Pharaoh.
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As we wind down another week of blogs from this story of Joseph, let's take today and look at some of the lessons to be learned:
God has a precise purpose and reason for putting us where we are right now. In God’s timing, He reveals His purposes.
God is omniscient (all knowing) and knows the future that He has purposes. Remember God knows the totality of the story, we only know in part.
God will never forsake us. Especially those who are experiencing difficult trials. He will enable His children to endure and grow from them: Romans 8:35-39, Hebrews 13:5-6: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
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