When Things Just Don’t Turn Out Right Part 2
1/26/1997 Genesis 40:1-19 1 Peter 4:12-19
Today we’re are going to continue our series on the man known as Joseph. If there was a sound bite to introduce the chapter and it was going to be on a talk show it would probably go like this, "Men in prison for refusing to have sex with their boss’s wives, next on Geraldo." I’m sure this would get a lot of people’s attention if they heard it on TV.
To refresh your memory about Joseph, Joseph was a young man dedicated to God. God had given Joseph two dreams, indicating that one day Joseph would rule over his eleven brothers, as well as his father and mother. His brothers hated him, because he was their father’s favorite son, and they despised him even more after he told them his dreams. He was merely a seventeen year old boy, and 10 of them were grown men.
They wanted to kill Joseph and see what would happen to his dream, but instead at the last moment, his brothers sold Joseph as a slave to some Ishmaelites on their way to Africa. Joseph ended up in the land of Egypt. He was purchased by Potiphar, and because God blessed everything Joseph did, Potiphar put him in charge of his entire household and business.
Joseph was very handsome, and Potiphar’s wife tried to get Joseph to have sex with her, but Joseph refused her advances again and again. In order to punish Joseph, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of trying to rape her. Potiphar was furious with Joseph and had him thrown into the king’s prison which was the maximum security prison of its day.
Joseph had God’s call and blessings on his life, but that alone did not stop bad things from happening in his life. Through his difficulties, Joseph never let go of the dream he possessed that one day God was going to make him a great leader. No matter how discouraged he must have become at the many reversals he had experienced, we never find Joseph doing less than his best. In his moments of crisis and disaster, we see him choosing to do what is good.
In our previous message, we pointed out four truths about trials. First is that God will Permit trials into our lives . Sometimes there is nothing we could do to stop them. Second is that God is in control of the trials in our lives. Even though God may put us in the furnace, God keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer. Third is that God enables us to bear our trials. He wants us to trust in Him, not in ourselves, Fourth is that. God’s deliverance may not always be immediate.
Joseph had done the right thing in rejecting Potiphar’s wife. He had said no to sexual sin even when he could have gotten away with it. Joseph understood, even though Potiphar might not have found out, God would be there watching the whole thing. Joseph asked the question, how could I sin against God by doing this. His faithfulness to God did not bring him an immediate reward. Sometimes when you take a stand for God, you might get fired. You might lose your boyfriend or your girlfriend. You might end up getting the short end of the stick, or like Joseph you might end up all by yourself in some prison where nobody even knows your name.
When the bible speaks of suffering for Christ it means you are suffering because you did the right thing. That verse in 1 Peter said 1 Pet 4:14-15 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. Too many Christians believe the only time they should have to suffer is when they do something wrong. That’s not suffering for Christ. That’s suffering for sin. There is no glory to God in us doing something wrong, and then saying I took my punishment like a Christian.
The very moment Jesus needs for us to be a witness for Him, is often the very moment we have decided to do what we want to do based on the circumstances facing us, instead of what the word of God says. How often does it matter to us, whether or not we are grieving the Holy Spirit by what we’re saying or doing? One of the abilities we as a society lack, and even we as Christians are beginning to lack is the feeling of shame for what we have done. W e have found the ability to laugh at that which breaks the heart of God over things in our own lives as well as in the lives of others.
We don’t find Joseph cursing out Potiphar’s wife. We don’t find him saying every evil thing about her that he could possibly could We do find Joseph trusting that even in this disaster and mess of a situation, God had a plan for his life. So often we make a situation worse for ourselves by failing to keep our mouths shut or by taking matters in our own hands to get even.
Joseph went from one of the most beautiful homes in Egypt to the best armed prison in the land. But Joseph did not go in with a pity party of woe is me. Nobody has ever gone through what I’m going through. Serving God just doesn’t add up. I may as well go and serve the devil. It can’t get much worse than this.
Saints when you signed up to follow Jesus, you signed up for battle duty. The bible says we are soldiers. Soldiers in battle are going to get fired upon and hit every now and then sometimes by the devil and sometimes by friendly fire. In the classical story of Virgil, one of the warriors returns from battle. His wounded body is propped up in the chariot. To see him you may have felt he had been defeated. But he cried out, "neverthe less, holding the reigns." He remained at his battle assignment with determination and fortitude. You may be wounded today, but can you say, "nevertheless I’m still holding the reigns."
When they led Joseph off to prison that day, he may have looked like a despised and defeated for in the eyes of others, but inside Joseph could say, "God, nevertheless, I’m holding the reigns." It was not long before Joseph discovered the same God who was with Him in Potiphar’s house, was with him in the king’s prison. Saints aren’t you glad, you can’t go anywhere that God can’t reach and God is not there. God knows how to open the doors you need to get to where he wants you to go and can’t anybody stop you from becoming what God wants you to be except you.
We should never look down on ex-convicts because some of God’s greatest servants spent time in prison. The Scripture says in Genesis 39:20-23 "But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joseph did not know how long he was going to be in that prison. He may have been in charge of everything, but it was still a prison and he wanted a way out of the place. He learned how to make the most of a bad situation by yielding himself to God, but he never stopped asking God to take Him to a better place. He never stopped looking for ways in which he could lift himself above the prison. Being content in a situation will allow you to have some peace, but keep in mind your goal is to be the best you can be in the best circumstances for God.
We were introduced in the Scripture reading this morning the cupbearer and the baker. Both had been thrown into prison because Pharaoh had become extremely angry with them. It just so happened they were assigned to Joseph in the prison. Both of them had a dream and were confused by the dream.
Now what impresses me about Joseph in this passage is his sensitivity to the distress of others. He was one of the big shots in the prison. He could have cared less about the feelings of others, but Joseph he recognized he was still just a servant of God. Don’t let a title deceive you. You are where you are to be a ministering servant for God. If you want to be great, learn to be the servant of all.
Joseph was moved to compassion when he saw how sad the cupbearer and baker were. He cared about these men on death row. He actually went over and asked, "why are you looking so sad today." He forgot himself long enough to be concerned that someone else in the prison is hurting. Don’t ever overlook people who are in need of your touch. They just might be the one God is sending into your life to make the difference you’ve been asking God for.
Joseph tells them, "look God is the one who interprets dreams. Tell me what you dreamed and God may tell me the meaning of them." Well the cupbearer tells Joseph his dreams, and Joseph says "man it won’t be long and you will be out of this place. In three days, Pharaoh is going to forget all about his problem with you, and is going to give you your old job back." I can imagine him saying, "Really, you really mean that. I’m actually going to get back my job. Man Thank You. Thank you. You did say in three days. Now. You wouldn’t kid me about this." Joseph says of course I wouldn’t. "Just do me one favor". Anything, man anything. Joseph says, "when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness. Speak to Pharaoh and get him to let me out of this prison. I never did anything wrong to deserve being put in a dungeon.
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the cup-bearer a good interpretation, he insisted, "man let me tell you about my dream." When he finished telling Joseph about the dream, Joseph’s face probably fell, as he told the man, this is not good. In three days, Pharaoh will have you executed by hanging.
Well in three days, Pharaoh had a birthday party. He gave a great feast for his officials. He decided to give the cupbearer back his old job, but he had the baker hanged just as Joseph said would happen. Now these men had dreams for one reason and one reason alone, God wanted someone on the outside to know that Joseph could interpret dreams. But Joseph didn’t know that. Joseph thought, God now that I have helped the cup-bearer and showed him comfort, I know you’ll use him to help me get out of this place.
We may see the end of a trial in sight. We can figure out exactly how God can go ahead and make it happen. But remember God has said this in the Bible Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." The good news is God is God is at work in your circumstances. The bad news is God is not finished with you yet.
Joseph put a lot of hope and confidence in the cupbearer helping to get him out of the prison. Joseph didn’t know that he was currently hoping against hope as far as the cupbearer was concerned for it says in verse 40:23," the chief cupbearer however, did not remember Joseph, he forgot him." People are going to forget the good you do for them, but keep on doing good anyways. People are going to forget the comfort you gave them, but keep on comforting anyways. After the cupbearer was released, Joseph slowly watched the hours turn into days with no word. The days turned into weeks with no word. The weeks turned into months with no word. The months turned into years with no words.
Joseph spent the next two years in that prison dungeon. He was there, not because of the lies of sex hungry woman, but because it was God’s will for Him to be there. You may be blaming others for where you are today, but I challenge us all to see that God’s will is active in our own circumstances. Each child of God is as important to God as Joseph was. Not because we have a task as great as Joseph’s but because we are just as precious to the Lord. We too have the affirmation of God’s control of our circumstances for our benefits. For the Bible tells us that in all things, God is working for the good of those who love him, and have been called according to His purpose.
The Bible is silent on Joseph’s life for the next two years. All we know is that he was in prison, continuing to prepare for that day when God’s word would be fulfilled in him. It just so happened that the ruler of Egypt, Pharaoh had a dream. The dream was so frightening, he woke up in a sweat. He went back to sleep and had a dream that was equally as disheartening. He called all the magicians and astrologers together to try to get them to interpret the dream. Not a single one could give an interpretation of the dream which made any sense. The dreams were so real to Pharaoh that he was visibly shaken.
All of his top officials and servants were at his side. A full two years later, the cupbearer speaks up. He said, I’m reminded of the time when Pharaoh became very angry with me and the chief baker. We both had dreams the same night and each dream had an interpretation of its own. Now there was a young Hebrew there with us who was a servant of the captain of the guard. He interpreted our dreams for us and it turned out exactly as he said it would. Now God had sent the cup-bearer to prison just to learn about Joseph so that the cup bearer could tell Pharaoh where Joseph was and what Joseph could do. Notice that God can use anybody at anytime in anyway he wants to.
When Joseph got up that morning, it didn’t seem like it was going to be any different than the last two years he had gotten up in prison. But when Pharaoh heard Joseph may be able to interpret his dreams, he immediately sent for Joseph. They gave him a bath, shaved his head, and put some new clothes on Joseph to present him to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh said, " I had a dream which no one can interpret. I have heard it said of you that you can interpret dreams." Joseph said, "Well I can’t interpret dreams, but God will give you the answer you desire.
Pharaoh said. in Genesis 41:17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up--scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. "In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted --withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me."
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
"It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
Now here is how I know Joseph never stopped working to be an administrator. He had a plan in mind as soon as a problem came up. He was ready when the door of opportunity became available. Look at the next verse. Genesis 41:33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way !" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."
Joseph had gone the bed the previous night as a slave in Egypt. He will go to bed this night as the second most powerful ruler in Egypt. But I want you to understand this did not happen overnight. It’s been 13 years since God gave him the dream of becoming a great administrator. That’s the equivalent of 4 years of college, 4 years of graduate school, and 5 years of on the job training before getting the position. Now suppose Joseph had of said, "God I am sick and tired of this prison and I’m going to break out of here and forget all about you, because it looks like you’ve forgotten about me." When God lets you know He’s about to do something new in your life, don’t immediately think short term. Look at a bigger chunk of your life. If you only look at the immediate circumstances, you will forever be saying, "life’s not fair, its too hard, why me O Lord." God has the strength and energy you need to reach any goal He calls you to reach.
God works out His purposes in the trials of life, if we yield to Him, trust Him, and obey what He tells us to do. Difficulties can increase our faith and strengthen our prayer lives. Difficulties can draw us closer to other Christians as they share burdens with us. Difficulties can be used to glorify God. So when you find yourself in the trials of life, remember what God is to you and what God does for you.
