God Remembers

Introduction

Learning to serve others is not always easy. It is easiest, perhaps, when things are just right—when we aren’t in a hurry, when not much is required, when we can help without taking too much time. Having a servant heart takes real determination and commitment. It actually takes the transforming power of Jesus to move us from self-oriented people to people who give for the sake of giving. When we look at the story of Joseph, we begin to notice that Joseph is being transformed by the events of his life. In today’s text, Joseph finds himself again in a situation that will allow him to display a heart set on honoring God. We will be encouraged in our study today.

Story

We have a fairly simple story. Joseph is in prison for a crime he did not commit. That injustice would be enough to make a person bitter and resentful. What we see is that in that prison, Joseph by God’s power succeeds. He is given charge of other prisoners. Even in the lowest places, Joseph is appreciated for his hard work and faithfulness. He is a man who can be trusted. So the injustice does not lead him to turn his back on God.

Two of Pharaoh’s officials—the cupbearer and the baker—are sent to prison as well. Both of these officials would have been trusted individuals at one time. We are not told what happened, but Pharaoh becomes displeased with them and they are imprisoned. Joseph attends them. One day he notices that they are sad and asks what is going on. Two officials; two troublesome dreams. But with God’s power through Joseph, the officials are allowed insight into their dreams.

The cupbearer’s dream means that within three days he will be restored to his place with Pharaoh. The baker, hearing such a wonderful interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream, asks Joseph to interpret his dream. But the interpretation is not as pleasant. The baker’s dream means that within three days he would be beheaded and his body left for the birds to eat. And both interpretations come true just as Joseph said they would.

Joseph had asked the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh when he is restored, but the cupbearer forgets Joseph. According to 41:46, Joseph is 30 years old when he is finally remembered. 41:1 says it is two years after the interpretation; thus, Joseph is 28 in chapter 40.

So What?

What lessons are there for us to learn from chapter 40? I would suggest that the lessons center around the idea of serving. In chapter 37, Joseph is 17 when he is sold into slavery. We don’t know how long he served Potiphar nor how long he stayed in jail in chapter 40, but what we can see is that Joseph acted in commendable ways. I’m not sure many of us would have acted with such faithfulness and lack of bitterness as Joseph. But he knew something that we need to learn.

First, serve where you are. Joseph’s heart was set on serving where he was. Whether it was Potiphar or the prison, Joseph served with distinction. He demonstrated his trustworthiness. He didn’t zoom into head slave at Potiphar’s house nor in the prison. He served with distinction while being at the bottom. He served where he was although he wanted to be somewhere else. What a valuable lesson to learn.

There are times when we are in places or situations that we don’t really like. We can be bitter or we can serve. We can complain or we can be faithful. We can give up or we can give ourselves.

The person who says they can’t do anything hasn’t looked at Joseph’s life closely enough. The favored son of his father is sold into slavery. What an injustice. He serves faithfully in his master’s house and is falsely accused of rape. He ends up in prison. What an injustice. He serves with distinction among the prisoners, even helping two of Pharaoh’s important officials, and he is forgotten. Yet, through all of these injustices he continues to demonstrate a heart for serving.

We can all find some way to serve. If we refuse to lament over what is lost but lift our eyes to what is possible, then we can find numerous ways to serve others where we are.

Second, serve who you can. Joseph is among the prisoners as chapter 40 begins. How easy it would be for him to say in his heart, “I am above them all.” Who knows who was in that prison when he was sent there—the lowliest of the low, possibly. But we have Joseph serving in the prison with distinction, and it results in being honored by the warden and placed in a position of trust. If we looked at people as if we were looking for Jesus, then we would gladly serve who we can.

Third, serve when you don’t know why. There is nothing in the text that leads us to believe that Joseph understood what was happening to him and why. There is nothing that suggests that he had a clear vision of the future. For 13 years he waits for God to lift him up. Why all the injustices? He doesn’t know. What is God going to do? He doesn’t know. But he serves. This has to do with his heart rather than circumstances. We must all learn to give of self when circumstances seem to demand that we focus on self. Isn’t this what Jesus did? Didn’t he serve where he was, serve those he could, and serve when the circumstances didn’t lend themselves to such? Jesus told us that he came to serve, not to be served.

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