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In the last article we'd learnt, that in spite of his troubles, Joseph had stayed faithful to the Most High God. For he was unwilling to compromise, when it came to his beliefs, and who he was in the Lord. And because of his unwavering loyalty, God continued to bless him with tremendous favor.
And it's for this reason, that it didn't matter where Joseph would end up, when it came to the dark and uncertain path, that he had been forced to take.
For the Sacred Record continues to inform us, about the different job promotions that Joseph had kept being a recipient of.
Know that Joseph had went from being his father's favorite son, to being the overseer (or supervisor) over one of Pharaoh's high ranking chief officers, who was known as Potiphar.
Now we find, that after Joseph had been falsely accused of wrongdoing, when it came to Potiphar's wife...
The Sacred Record points out, that he was sent to a place that was known as the King's Prison. And in spite of this, God's favor would find Joseph from within this place as well, and because of this, Joseph had been promoted from within the very prison, that he was now serving his time in. And he wasn't promoted to just any position? for we find, that he was promoted to a position, that was second only to the prison warden. And what this basically meant, is that Joseph would be placed in charge of all the prisoners, from within that particular prison.
Now we've come to the point, where its been revealed by the Sacred Record -- that Pharaoh's cupbearer and chief baker had been sent to the very same prison, that Joseph was now serving in. And because of Joseph's new high ranking position from within the King's Prison, the cupbearer and the chief baker, were placed under his watch.
Now let's fast-forward a bit... and it's at this point, that we'd learned, that after the cupbearer and the chief baker had been in prison for some time (now we're not told a specific length of time), but the Sacred Record has revealed, that the cupbearer and the chief baker each had disturbing dreams during this one particular night. Understand that these weren't some vain or idle dreams, but dreams that held some type of meaning.
And needless-to-say, the cupbearer and the chief baker would become very bothered, and sadden by these dreams, that they just had. For they were disturbed so-much-so, that when Joseph had come in to begin his day, he noticed just how dejected the two were looking. And this is why he'd asked them: "Why are your faces so sad today?"
Now after hearing this from Joseph -- they both responded by saying: "We both had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them." But Joseph responded back to them by saying: "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."
Now starting with the chief cupbearer, he would begin to tell Joseph about his dream: "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hands." -- Genesis 40:9-11
After hearing this, Joseph responded: "This is what it means; the three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." -- Genesis 40:12-15
Now I want to take a moment, and point to something that I find to be
very interesting from within this reply from Joseph. Not necessary in
regards, to what Joseph had interpreted the dream to be, but what he
said afterwards: "But when all goes well with you, remember me and show
me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison."
Understand,
that it's this particular statement from Joseph that I find to be very
interesting? Notice how Joseph was asking the cupbearer to remember him
when he gets out of prison, and to put in a good word when he comes
before the Pharaoh. Now, I'm not suggesting that Joseph was wrong to
want to get out of prison? but he was wrong, for not fully trusting God
(like he always had before). Know that Joseph had displayed this lack of
trust, by asking the cupbearer to help him to get out of his current
ordeal.
Now think about this for a moment... and if we were to be honest with ourselves, most of us would have probably made the same mistake, if we too, were to find ourselves in what seemed to be, an overwhelming situation.
Nonetheless, it would be apparent at this point in time from within Joseph's life, that he didn't completely recognize how God was continuing to move, and provide for him, when it came to his everyday life. Now I'm not going to bash (or ridicule) Joseph, when it comes to him possibly losing sight of God momentarily, while he was being forced down a path, that he didn't deserve to be on. For this was a path that he didn't want to venture forth on, in the first place.
And it's very well possible, that Joseph wasn't able to clearly track
God movements, from within his current ordeal. For if he could, Joseph
would have recognized that the Lord had been constantly making the best
provisions for him, in spite of his current horrid living conditions and
overall situation.
Notice how, whenever Joseph was moved to a
different phase, stage, or place, during this stressful season in his
life -- notice how God was there to turn what seemed to be a bad
situation, into an arrangement that eventually worked well in Joseph's
favor.
And perhaps Joseph's perception and his overall understanding, was limited to his natural surroundings. And because of this limitation, it's very well possible, that he couldn't recognize (at least at this point) what the Lord was trying to do for him, when it came to his overall life.
Now like I stated earlier, these are the same mistakes that most of us seem to make? For we tend to focus more on our current situations, instead of what God is trying to do for us overall. And because of this, we fail to keep our eye (and mind) on God -- when it comes to our current problem (or ordeal) that we are greatly concerned with at the time.
To put it simply, we must learn how to look at things in such a way, that it takes us beyond or natural perception of things. For I believe, that if we learn how to truly do this, then we'll be able to see the many different things that God is doing from within, our so-called dire situation, that we sometimes find ourselves in.
But if we don't learn how to look beyond our problems, I believe that we'll constantly make the mistake, of becoming so focused on the problem that we're dealing with, that most of the time, we'll fail to see how God is allowing us to benefit, from that very same situation, in spite of the problem that concerns us so. For these benefits (or blessings) aren't coming in the type of package, that we had hoped it would come in. And because of this, we're not able to recognize God's blessings for what they truly are? For we must always remember, that God uses our current ordeal, in order to prepare and equip us, for the bigger things that we'll encounter from within our everyday lives.
But unfortunately, most of us, never make it to this point. For we tend to give up in disgust, frustration and disappointment, by unintentionally turning our backs on God. And so therefore, the lesson that deals with us enduring and placing our trust fully in God -- has to be constantly learned, over and over again. Therefore, possibly creating a vicious cycle of disappointments and setbacks, from within our daily lives.
Now if we were to take a closer look at Joseph's situation, one could wonder: "Could the cupbearer do more for Joseph then the Lord can, at this point from within Joseph's life?" I mean really, at best, the cupbearer could have gotten Joseph freed from prison -- but then what? Yes I know... he would've been a freed man. But what good is a man being free, if he's rendered to a state of idleness?
I guess one, could consider the notion, that Joseph would have become some sort of wanderer, who ended up searching for a path, that would have eventually lead him to his true purpose? I mean after all, this is very well possible (but highly unlikely). And if this were to have happened, I truly believe, that this would have been a huge mistake on Joseph's part? for he would've spent so much time learning, that the path in which he truly seeks, is the one he'd just departed from.
And this is why, it's crucial, that we're able to recognize the tremendous value that we get from the Sacred Record? For if we can discover the unique advantages that the Word of God offers, then we would be able to use these "unique advantages" when it comes to recognizing how God continues to provide, and how He reacts and moves, from within our ongoing situations in life. For the Sacred Record reassures us, that the Lord is always near, and that He's forever working hard on our behalf.
Nonetheless, let's move forward...
Now the Sacred Record has now placed its focus, towards the chief baker. And being that he had just seen Joseph give the cupbearer a very favorable dream interpretation. Needless-to-say, this encourages him to proceed in asking Joseph to also interpret the dream, that he just had as well: "I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head." -- Genesis 40:16,17
Now after hearing the dream that the chief baker had just told him, Joseph gives his interpretation: "This is what it means: The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh." -- Genesis 40:18,19
Okay...!?
Needless-to-say, this wasn't the type of dream interpretation, that the chief baker was expecting.
Now however that may have been... ironically on the third day, after Joseph had interpreted the dreams of the two men -- we're now told, that the third day would be Pharaoh's birthday. And because of this, a great feast was thrown in his honor. And at that event, we now find that Pharaoh had the cupbearer and the chief baker presented before all his officials.
And it's at this point, we find that the Egyptian Ruler would lift up the heads of the cupbearer and the chief baker; and just like Joseph had foretold to them both three days before -- the cupbearer would be restored to his old position. Which basically meant, that he would once again, place the cup into Pharaoh's hands. But when it came to the chief baker, we find that he was hanged, just like Joseph had interpreted (foretold).
However that may have been, the cupbearer did not remember Joseph like he had promised to do... and just like that, Joseph was forgotten. And this is why, we have to learn how to trust in God and not in man. For we must always remember, that God will never fail us, and man will only use, and disappoint us -- especially when it comes to us, helping that particular person (or individuals) complete their own personal (or ideological) agenda.
Now we find, that Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret for him (or so it seems) -- And since the cupbearer had forgotten Joseph... does this mean, that God had forgotten him as well? Will Pharaoh's magicians and royal officials, be able to help the Egyptian Ruler discern his dream?
The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men
Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
**YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE**
67) The Descendants of Esau
69) Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams
71) Joseph & The Pit of Darkness
72) Jacob the Father of Sorrow
73) The Importance of Judah's History
75) The Reaping Season of Judah
76) Tamar's Revenge
78) Joseph the Servant of Favor
79) Potiphar's Wife Lies on Joseph
82) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->
84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation
85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt
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