Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 40 02/09/03

Intro: The story is told of a man who went out to his car one morning only to discover that it wouldn't start. After lifting up the hood, he found a note which said: "I'm sorry I had to take your battery, but it was an emergency and I had to get to the hospital. I will return your battery as soon as I can." A little later the battery was returned with another note: "Thank you so much for the use of your battery. To express our appreciation and to make up for the inconvenience we have caused you, here are two tickets to the Dallas Cowboys game this Sunday." The couple was ecstatic. They were fans of the Cowboys and were thrilled at the opportunity to go to the game. What a wonderful turn of events this had been. But when they returned home from the game they discovered, to their dismay, that their apartment had been cleaned out. The football tickets had simply been a ruse to get them out of the house.

 That's not too far from the 1 step forward, 2 steps back kind of life that Joseph had. He was a leader among his brothers only to be sold into slavery. He was a leader among slaves, only to be thrown in prison for something he didn't do. And today we will see... He was made a leader in the prison, even stands up for God and is forgotten by the  man he helped.

 Yet, not once did Joseph throw his hands up to God and cry 'I hate you. I don't want anything to do with you.'. In the midst of all his unjust suffering, he still trusted God and believed in Him. We can learn much about faith from Joseph.

Read: Genesis 40:1-4a
 
A couple of things to note.
1. According to vs 7, this prison was in the basement of Potiphar's house.
2. Potiphar was the captain of the Guard and therefore he was Joseph's warden.
3. That means it was Potiphar who gave Joseph run of the prison. This seems to indicate that Potiphar really didn't believe the
    charges made against Joseph. But he had to act or lose respect and possible control in his home.
4. The Cup bearer and the Baker were not insignificant positions in Pharaoh's court. They were positions of high honor given to
    men of noble stature in the kingdom. These men were in close contact with Pharaoh and were considered powerful because
    they had access to Pharaoh's ear.

 Do you think it was a coincidence these two high court officials were placed in prison...the same prison Joseph was in...and placed under Joseph's care? I don't think so either.

Read: Genesis 40:4b-8
 One day Joseph notices that his two charges were sad. Apparently it didn't occur to him that some people might find being in prison an adequate reason for being sad! I spent a year as a psychiatric social worker in the Phila prison system and I don't remember any of the inmates being happy about their current residence and living conditions.
 
 However, it wasn't being incarcerated that made them sad, it was the fact that they each had a dream and there was no one to interpret it for them. You see, dreams and interpretations of dreams was a big thing in ancient Egypt. Those who could properly interpret dreams were highly valued in that culture.

 Joseph told them don't worry, God is the one who interprets dreams, and He will interpret yours. The fact that Joseph said this to the two men is rather significant. His absolute confidence that God could and would interpret the dreams tells us something of Joseph's spiritual condition. A man in his circumstances might question the existence of God. At least doubt that God cares about him.

 Notice Joseph doesn't think it over, say I'll get back to you or I'll pray about it. Joseph's eagerness showed that he believed that God was with him, even in prison. And that God cared enough for Joseph to give him the interpretation of the dreams. This is yet another example of a man who made up his mind about God, his love and relationship to him. Why else would Joseph jump at the opportunity to give glory to God? Because he had already decided that whenever the opportunity came, he would be found faithful.

Read: Genesis 40:9-15
 It is interesting to note that Joseph could see the cup bearer being released, but he could not see his own deliverance.
 It is also interesting to note that men in Joseph's position would have bargained with the cup bearer. Look, I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine. However, this is where there is some controversy over what Joseph says to the cup bearer, after he interprets the dream.

 Some say Joseph lacked faith when he asked the cup bearer to get him out of prison by speaking to Pharaoh when he was released. They say he was no longer trusting in or waiting for God to act. Instead he placed his hope for deliverance in a man.

 Others say although Joseph was content to remain in prison, as long as God willed, but it was proper for him to make every legitimate effort to get out of prison. They say this is no different than Paul requesting his case go to Caesar in Rome rather than stay in a local Jerusalem court.

 I believe while it may have been appropriate, it wasn't God's way... this time. Joseph's deliverance would not come from the cup bearer remembering him to Pharaoh. It would come from God.

Read: Genesis 40:16-19
 The  baker hearing the good interpretation tells his dream to Joseph. Notice that Joseph didn't hide anything from the baker even though it was bad news. Needless to say Joseph didn't ask anything of the baker when he was released.

 We hate being the bearer of bad tidings..don't we?
     -Telling our parents we didn't do so well on our report cards.
     -Telling someone we work closely with that they have bad breath.
     -How about telling someone they have something stuck between their teeth.

 It is not easy. But often it is for their good. How about when we share the Gospel, the Good News of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Don't we often leave out the bad news. You know there is bad news as well? The bad news of the Gospel is reject Jesus Christ as Savior, as the one who forgives your sin and you will not find forgiveness and you will continue on your path to destruction, torment and hell.

 We must tell both the good and the bad news of the Gospel. Just as Joseph could not avoid giving the bad news to the Baker, we must not avoid giving the bad news of the Gospel to those who reject Jesus Christ as Savior.

Read: Genesis 40:20-22
 Josephs interpretation of the two dreams was right on. Both the cup bearer and the Baker were released. The cup bearer was restored to Pharaoh's court while the Baker was executed.

Read: Genesis 40:23
 Here we go again...just kick me while I'm down, why don't you? 'The chief cup bearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.'

James M. Boice gives this possible description of Joseph's mental state.

 'We can almost hear the cup bearer say 'Yes, Yes I will remember you to Pharaoh. I will tell him all about you. It was great that you could help me. I promise I will help you out, just as soon as I am restored as Pharaoh's cup bearer. You can count on me.'

 'Joseph would have taken that to heart. When the day of the cup bearers release came, Joseph would walk him to the door of the prison and would watch as the door opened to let the cup bearer leave, and then close again. Joseph would have then gone back to his duties. But every time he heard the door to the prison open, he would have ran hoping it was the cup bearer with his release. Only to find it was someone else.

 Certainly the cup bearer was busy getting reacquainted with his duties, he will remember me tomorrow. Joseph would tell himself. Tomorrow came, the door opened and it was not for him.

 For the first couple of weeks Joseph ran to the door when he heard it open, but as time went by, his run would turn to a walk, then to a glance of the eyes and finally he didn't even bother to look. His hope of deliverance by the cup bearer was gone as he comes to grips with the fact that the cup bearer had forgotten him.'

 In Ch. 41 we will read  that two full years have passed. It would have been natural for Joseph to become bitter. But Joseph did not grow bitter, instead he waited for Gods deliverance.

 Ever been there? Ever feel forgotten? When others are getting together, going out, being recognized for their achievements or contributions ..but you never get a call, or your name is left out of the program? How do you feel?
     -To be forgotten is painful, it hurts.
     -To be forgotten is confusing, I thought they were friends.
     -To be forgotten creates mistrust and doubt, did they forget on purpose?
 
 But, we have the promise in God's Word that He will never forget his own. We forget, others forget too, sometimes on purpose, but often unintentionally. But God never forgets His children!

    -God remember Noah in the great flood.
    -God remembered Jonah in the belly of the fish
    -God remembered the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom.

 You can trust God even when He seems distant, even when you feel forgotten by him. Trust Him.

 When it seems God has forgotten you, ask yourself 'Is God is trying to slow me down so that he can teach me something?' Or 'Is there something God is working to change in my life during this time?'

 As we will see next week, the time of God's apparent absence, is often a time for character development. It was for Joseph and it may be for you as well.

Conclusion
 You know the most significant feature of Joseph's life was his steadfast loyalty to God in the midst of trying circumstances.  he never gave up on God because he decided a head of time that God would never give up on him.

 Joseph remained faithful to God in spite of unanswered questions, in spite of the fact that God's timing didn't agree with his own. He could have complained to God...but he never did. Because he trusted in God's  providence. Providence is not just a town in Rhode Island, it is a concept that proclaims God is in control. And what God says and plans will happen.

Someone once said  'Those who see God's hand in everything, leave everything in God's hands.'

I think that is good advice. Remember, God promises to never leave you or forsake you. Decide today, right now to believe it.