Forgotten In The Cell Series

Victim…that’s a word that we hear a lot these days isn’t it?

If anyone ever experienced being a victim it would have had to have been Joseph.

Let’s quickly recap his story thus far…

First he receives unfair treatment from his brothers, then he gets thrown into a situation of being a slave, next he gets falsely accused of rape, and we left him last week getting thrown into prison,

But if you recall we once again were reminded that The Lord was with Joseph and it wasn’t long until he was promoted to head trustee and despite his circumstances he was making the best of an otherwise bad situation.

In what could have been a bad situation Joseph prospered! Because of his commitment to God, he was freed up to be used of God in the lives of at least two other men.

LET me just throw this in for someone here today…When a dungeon experience comes…the quickest and easiest response is to feel like God has forgotten you…Lord where are you…what is going on will you ever answer my prayers? Have you been there?

If that is where you are this morning then just hang on…this message is for you, good news is on the way…. Let’s look at Genesis chapter 40 for our lesson today…

1 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

Isn’t it amazing how often God will bring alongside us people who are going thru or have gone thru the same circumstances that we are dealing with?

Old Joseph and these two guys were all thrown into prison for different reasons but here they are together, sharing similar stories of misery. Now watch what happens as God starts to use the circumstances…

After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, "Why are your faces so sad today?"

If anyone should have had the sad face you would think it would have been Joseph but not the case…say Christian friend…when your heart is right, even though the bottom may have dropped out of your life, you can still be empathetic to others who are suffering…so Joseph inquires what is wrong…watch this verse 8…

8 "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them."

Remember from week one something we learned about Joseph…this guy was the dreamer of all dreamers…

Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams."

At first Joseph may have though to great not another dream Lord…remember last time I shared about a dream…but know being obedient he ask them to share their dreams with him…

9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand."

12 "This is what it means," Joseph said to him. "The three branches are three days. 13 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. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 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."

You see before you, get the wrong impression about Joseph we see him being human just like we would be no doubt. Don’t forget me when you get tout of here he said, tell the guys in the office that I am ready to get out of here…

Look over there in the corner…there sets the baker…poor guy; he jumps up and asks for the interpretation of his dream…listen…