God in the Ebb & Flow of Life:
Opportunities, Assistance & Amnesia
Scripture Text: Genesis 40.5-23
INTRODUCTION
Good ole Joseph has been through a lot, hasn’t he!?! When we left him last-week, …he was sitting in the pit-of-prison!... Have you ever been behind bars?
Not-a-fun-place to-be! But, when you’re used-to-living a favored-life ~ …like Joseph was used-to-living, …it must’ve-been miserable!
But, …that’s-where Joseph found-himself. It wasn’t his fault… which might’ve-tempted him to- become bitter ~ His boss’-wife pointed a lying-finger in his direction, …and that-was-that! No more cloak-of-honor; …no-more position-of-prestige; …no-more strolling through the master’s-palace. Now, he’s relegated to a dark-and-dingy dungeon.
But, he’s not-there all-alone. There’s a warden. And supposedly there were other prisoners because Joseph is put in charge of all-the-others. I don’t know if you consider that a ‘glimmer-of-hope’, ~ …but, even in the pit-of-prison, …Joseph is put-in-charge. It just seems that there’s something about his-character that’s-emerging ~ …something that others notice, …something that leads people like Potiphar and this prison-warden to trust Joseph and-to put him in charge.
But, there-he-was, …takin’-care of his responsibilities, …when he comes across two-dudes that aren’t havin’ the best-of-days! These are guys-like-him: …they used to have good jobs; …they used to rub-shoulders with big-wigs; …they were trusted and respected and life-was-good. The chief-baker was the head-chef ~ (as-though his title didn’t give it away!). Now keep-in-mind, he was no-ordinary fry-cook! He was the chief-baker for Pharaoh – …the king-of-the-land. I’m not sure what the qualifications-were for that-kinda-position, …but I’d expect that he was artistic and talented and could manage the pressure of making sure his king was pleased with each morsel that he placed in his mouth! It’s a tall order!
I am not Pharaoh, …and I’m not-a-king ~ …so I hardly-feel-worthy of the ‘chief-baker’ that graces my house! Amy is an absolutely-wonderful-cook. If you’ve had-the-chance to sit down to one-of-her-meals, …you’ll understand why I’ve gained almost 40 pounds in our 18-years-of-marriage! But-truly, …there’s only one-time (in all-those-years), …only-one-time that she made something that I just couldn’t stomach. We have laughed-about-it; …but, in Pharaoh’s house, …such an offence could-have-gotten the chief-baker kicked-to-the-curb!
What-was-it that got Pharaoh upset with the baker? Did he put too-much-salt in the Belgian-waffles? Did he experiment with ramen-noodles and caramel-topping? Or, did he try to sneak lima-beans and brussel-sprouts into his strawberry-smoothie? ~ Who knows! More-likely, …Pharaoh got sick to his stomach and thought that the chief-baker was trying-to-poison him! Seriously!... Was it food-poisoning; …or, was it deliberate-poisoning!?!
The king’s cupbearer had a very prestigious job, as well. You-might-think that it’s no-big-deal to carry Pharaoh’s-mug!... But, the job actually entailed a little-bit-more than-that… He had to taste-test Pharaoh’s drink before passing the goblet! “Why would he have to do that?”, you ask… Well, that was Pharaoh’s-way of making sure that his drink wasn’t poisoned! If somebody had-it-out-for-the-king, …and slipped some-cyanide in the punch, …the cup-bearer would take the first drink, …and hit-the-deck before Pharaoh ever-got the glass-to-his-lips!
So, Joseph’s new-companions in-prison were from the halls-of-power in the greatest-nation on the face-of-the-earth, at the time! They were used-to receiving Pharaoh’s praise for an artfully-prepared-meal, …or a fine-choice of wine to compliment the evening’s-entertainment. They were used-to walking the halls of Pharaoh’s palace, …and being admired by lower-servants. They were used-to holding the king’s-trust ~ …not enduring his scorn!
And-so, it’s not-hard-to-imagine that these two were down-in-the-dumps ~ …their faces were down-cast. Life was miserable! I’m sure that in their wildest-dreams, …they never-imagined that they’d find-themselves in such a low-place!
But, there they were! And to make matters-worse, …they each had a dream. They were troubled by the dreams. They didn’t know what-was-up with the dreams; …and there wasn’t anyone-in-the-dungeon to help-them-understand!
Now, when I have a dream ~ …I usually chalk-it-up to the big-bowl of ice-cream that I ate at 11:30! ~ …Maybe you attribute-it-to the pastrami-sandwich or the deer-jerky that you ate for a mid-nite-snack! But, in the ancient-world, …people believed that dreams meant-something; …they often thought that their-god was speaking to them ~ …and, in-fact we have examples of the Lord-God speaking to His people through dreams… Abraham had a dream: …and in-the-dream, God told him to “count the stars” (referring to his descendants); …Jacob had a dream, and he saw angels going up-and-down a ladder that stretched-up-to-heaven. And many-other-times did-God speak to His people through dreams.
But, God also would-speak to other-folks - …not-just His faithful-followers – …and God would give them a message in-a-dream: It won’t-be-long before God will give Pharaoh-himself a dream; …and many hundreds of years-later, God will give the Babylonian-king a dream.
But-here, now, two-royal-servants from Pharaoh’s household ~ …they’ve each had-a-dream and they don’t understand what their dreams mean! They are-just-sure that the dreams mean something; …and if they mean something - whatever-it-is - …it must-be significant! But they can’t figure-it-out. And-so, they’re down-in-the-dumps!
They’re down-in-the-dumps, …not-just-because they’re confused about the meanings-of-the-dreams; …but also because they are in prison, …instead of livin’ their usual-good-life.
Enter-Joseph. I’m equally-sure that he never-dreamed that he’d be locked-up in an Egyptian-prison! He was his father’s favorite son. His family was wealthy and their herds-and-flocks grazed on the rolling hills of Canaan. And-even-after he was betrayed-by-his-brothers, …it-wasn’t-long-before he’d found-favor in someone-else’s-eyes. But, even-that didn’t-last-long ~ …and he ended-up in the same dingy-place as the chief-baker and the cupbearer: …the place of shattered-dreams, …and uncertain-futures.
I guess-that all-three-of-them could’ve sat-down and had a pity-party ~ …remembering how-good life-used-to-be; …wishing that they-could-go-back; …wondering why-they were in such-a-deep-dark-pit in-life.
The Bible tells us that the baker and the cup-bearer were thrown into prison because they “offended” the Pharaoh. (v.1) But, it’s clear that they are eager to-be-restored to their position.
Justice is an underlying-current of this story. Everybody is interested in justice. The two-officials want to be restored to their positions; …Joseph wants to get out of prison. The two-officials were in prison for ‘offending’ their master; …Joseph was there because of others’ mis-treatment: …first, by his brothers, …and later, by his master’s wife.
Everybody is suffering. Everybody wants relief. Everybody hopes that they will be “lifted up” out of the hole-in-the-ground.
As-it-turns-out, Joseph tells the two-officials that they will-be “lifted up”. He interprets their dreams for them. Of-course, …they are two-different-dreams; …with two-different-outcomes. And it’s hard-to-say whether either-one-of-them got-what-he-deserved. We don’t-know what the baker did to offend Pharaoh. We don’t know what the cupbearer did to offend his king. We just-know that they each did something ~ …and-whatever-it-was, …Pharaoh didn’t like it!
And-so, they were cast-down into prison… …the place-where dreams are shattered; …the place-where hearts-and-hopes are crushed; …the place-where the sun-don’t-shine and the face-of-prisoners sinks lower-and- lower.
Could there be any-hope in such-a-place!?! Could there be any-possibility of getting lifted-up outta-this-pit?
Well… in-fact… There was! And it did happen: The baker and the cup-bearer were “lifted-up” ~ …just-as the dream-had-revealed, …and-as Joseph had told them! The cup-bearer was “lifted-up” and restored to his former job/position: …Life was good for him!
The baker was “lifted-up”, …only-to-be executed at Pharaoh’s call: …Life came to an abrupt-end for him!
The only one of-the-three who wasn’t “lifted-up” was Joseph… Good ole Joseph… He was left in-the-pit. Left in prison. Left to tend prisoners in the dungeon.
We may wonder about the justice-of-it-all. We-may-wonder whether the baker got-what he deserved. We-may-wonder whether the cup-bearer got-what he deserved. But-we-know that Joseph is suffering unjustly!... It’s not fair ~ …that he’s in prison because of someone else’s sin!
But, Whatcha-gonna-do!?!... You can’t stop! You can’t curl-up in-a-ball and mope-your-troubles-away! And you can’t turn angry-and-bitter and lash out at the world. And you can’t return an eye-for-an-eye! What-are-you-gonna-do when life-stinks because it’s-not-fair ~ …when junk happens to you because someone else chooses-to-sin?
Joseph chooses to do what he can. His options are limited ~ …but he makes the most of them and lets his character-and-integrity shine in the darkness. Ya-see, …it’s not about the particular-circumstances that Joseph found-himself-in: …it’s not-about the dark-dungeon. Rather, it’s-the-fact that he refused to let his heart be chained by those circumstances; …he persevered in-the-darkness so that what-light-he-could-shine, shone-brightly.
That whole-thing about light-and-darkness is a major theme in Scripture… Just-a-quick-glance in my on-line concordance gave dozens of references to light-and-darkness. Let me share with you a sample of those references:
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice. (Ps 112.4-5)
If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isa 58.10-11)
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.” (Jn 8.12)
People [don’t] light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt 5.15-17)
What we should see in these-samples is that there seems-to-be two-kinds of light: …the light that comes from God; …and the light that we allow to shine through our lives. But-really, there is only-one Source of light: and that is God ~ our Heavenly Father. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” ~ …and-when the Light-of-the-world is shining in our hearts, …it can’t help but seep-out in our attitudes-and-actions!
Joseph made the most of his situation and let light shine in the darkness… “What-do-ya-mean, Pastor Josh? “How did Joseph let the light-of-God shine in that-dungeon?”
Well… in at least two-ways: First, he helped the two-prisoners understand their dreams. We often talk about “shedding light” on something ~ …and-by-that we-mean: bringing understanding. Joseph wiped away confusion-and-frustration by helping the baker and the cup-bearer understand their dreams… And-remember: their dreams were a-way that God was communicating to them. So, Joseph helped them hear-the-Voice-of-God. Joseph told them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” ~ …and-so, by-interpreting their-dreams, …Joseph was helping them to hear God’s message.
The second-way that Joseph let the light-of-God shine in that-dungeon was through his compassion. Joseph noticed that these-guys were down-cast; …he felt-compassion for them; …and he entered-into conversation with them to see if there was something he could do to help.
Isn’t this what compassion is ~ …being willing to step into someone else’s darkness; …being willing to enter-someone’s broken-world, …so-that the Light-of-God can shine through us and give them some comfort and hope? Isn’t that what compassion is? ~
That’s-what Joseph does for these men. He notices that they’re havin’ a tough-day. He asks-them about-it. And-then, …he lets God work through him to bring understanding. [Granted ~ for the baker, it’s not-exactly what-he-wants-to-hear! [But-then-again, …the question is not whether it was news that the baker wanted-to-hear; …but, whether it was the message that God wanted him to know.]
We are called on to let the light-of-God shine through us. Sometimes that-light will be of-great-comfort and helpfulness when the other-person is down-and-out, …and their faces are down-cast; …and what we offer them is hope and kindness. But, there will be other times when that-light will be unsettling and stern, …and what we offer them is a warning …but-also, an opportunity to get-ready for the consequences of their actions.
Hear-me: Both are compassionate. It’s not-that one is-loving and the other is-judgmental!... Both are compassionate… Both are light-giving. Sharing a word-of-warning and sharing a word-of-encouragement ~ …both can-be the work-of-God through us.
Joseph took-no-joy in telling the baker that he was going to be executed! But, because this was God’s message to him, …he had time-and-opportunity to consider his mortality ~ …perhaps, he considered-his-actions that brought him to this point; …and maybe… hopefully it brought him to-a-point of repentance in his heart!
Sometimes we get all-wrapped-up in the issues of justice. Why am I suffering? Why do the innocent endure hardships? Why isn’t life fair? ~
Sometimes we get so-wrapped-up in issues-of-justice that we get side-tracked. The reality is: We live in a broken world. Sin has been wreaking-havoc in every-generation since Adam-and-Eve. And because people choose to disobey God, …and think that they know-better-than the Lord, …there’s gonna-be-suffering-and-hardship-and-injustice!
But… what we can-do, is to let the compassionate, kind, love-of-God shine through our lives: …even in the midst of the darkness!
The question is not: “Why is there suffering and hardships and brokenness?” The question is: How can I let the light of God shine through me into this dark-world!?!”
Joseph is forgotten. The cup-bearer is restored to his position, …but he forgets the one who told him what-was-gonna-happen. He forgot the one who showed him kindness in his desperate-dungeon. He forgot he one who let the light-of-God brighten his dark-hour. The cup-bearer goes-back to the good-life; …but Joseph is left-behind in the dungeon. Joseph is forgotten.
Tragedy. Insult to injury. The one-thing, …the only-thing that Joseph asked of the cup-bearer was that he remember-him when he got released. As a matter-of-fact, Joseph called this a ‘kindness’: “…remember me and show me kindness.”
But, he forgot ~ In trading his prison-garb for royal-clothes; …in all the hugs-and-high-fives from fellow court-officials; …in the excitement of taking his place next to Pharaoh and having the king’s mug put-back-in-his-hand ~ …The cup-bearer forgot Joseph.
Which might lead us back to justice. And we feel this gnawing-uneasiness in the pit-of-our-stomach ~ …and it says, “That’s not fair! “How dare the cup-bearer-dude forget Joseph! “Why doesn’t Joseph get what he deserves!?! “He was kind and compassionate; “…he cared about the people around him; “…he let God’s light shine through his life… “What’s the deal!?!”
Jesus taught us to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us. He didn’t guarantee that we would receive such good treatment! God gave Moses the command to love our neighbors as ourselves. We weren’t promised that our neighbors would be as loving and kind, back-toward-us!
Sometimes we let our life-circumstances shift our focus away from God’s commands. But these are God’s dreams for us. Joseph has got-it! Circumstances aren’t the pre-requisite to letting the Light-of-God shine through us. We can’t let others’ actions ~ …whether it’s betrayal, …or sinful-choices, …or forgetfulness, …or neglect ~ …we can’t let others’ choices become an excuse for us, as-to-why we don’t let God’s light shine.
Joseph got it. Betrayed, …falsely accused, …the world-would-say: “Down on his luck” ~ Joseph was kind and compassionate and he let the light of God brighten-up a pretty dismal-picture. How ‘bout you?... How does God want to brighten-up the dismal circumstances that you’ve been toiling away, in?
