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In the last article we learned that Joseph's dream interpretations did come true for the cupbearer and the chief baker. Now when it came to the two, Joseph had foretold how the cupbearer would live to see his position restored within the royal courts. And when it came to the chief baker, Joseph had foretold how after three days had passed, he would not live to see another day from that day forward. Be that as it may, Joseph would have to continue on when it came to serving out his own prison term requirements, regardless of what happened to the cupbearer or the chief baker. After all, Joseph had fallen into the false trap of hope, by trusting and believing that the cupbearer would remember him, after he had been released and restored back to his official position within the Egyptian royal courts. The Scared Record would reveal that two full years would pass by, after the cupbearer had been released from his prison sentence and still Joseph heard no word from him or Pharaoh. We have now reached the point from within this record, to where we are told that Pharaoh had two dreams: "Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. "He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain spouted thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream." -- (Genesis 41:1-7) Understand that these dreams that Pharaoh had just experienced, caused his mind to be troubled. Because of this, the Egyptian ruler would send for all the magicians and sages from within the Egyptian lands. The magicians and sages would gather in front of Pharaoh, and while they stood before him, Pharaoh would tell them his dreams. But with all of their combine reasoning, good judgment and foresight, none of them could interpret Pharaoh's dark dreams for him. It would be at this moment that the cupbearer would remember Joseph and he began to tell his story to Pharaoh: "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of Potiphar. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged." -- (Genesis 41:9-13) Now at first glance, some would say that the cupbearer did after all remember Joseph. If we were to look at the surface of this record, you would assume right. But let's go deeper, because we find that two full years had passed before the cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh about Joseph. Now let's considered something for a moment? Notice when the cupbearer was first released from his prison sentence, would it be too farfetched to see how the only thing on the cupbearer's mind at that particular moment, dealt with experiencing some type of liberating happiness? I mean after all, he had just been released from prison and a possible death sentence. The death sentence comes from the cupbearer learning that he would avoid the suffering taste of death, unlike the chief baker. But let's say that the cupbearer would have remembered Joseph at that time he was freed and spoke to Pharaoh about him soon after he was released? What type of value would have Joseph brought to the Egyptian ruler at that moment? Pharaoh didn't at this time, have any dreams that needed an interpretation, and on top of that -- Joseph was a foreigner to the land, and a slave that alleging disrespected Potiphar's wife and household. Now, what kind of value would that have been to Pharaoh, that would have caused him to release Joseph? In reality, there would have been a very slim chance that Pharaoh would have released Joseph and made him a free man. But, let's say that he did release him -- then what? Joseph would have probably headed back home and took his rightful position of being Jacob's favorite son. And although this is honorable, God had much bigger plans for Joseph and so therefore delayed his release. This teaches us that we must learn to trust God completely and have patience when it comes to waiting on Him. You never know what God has in store for you. We should always keep in mind that those who wait patiently for the Lord, will in fact be paid well for their waiting, not only in principal but in interest. Always remember that whenever you stand for God and suffer because of it, it's never for naught. It's God's way of completing you: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." -- James 1:2-4 The cupbearer finally remembers Joseph. Will Pharaoh send for Joseph and see if he could do what his magicians and wise men couldn't? If Joseph can help Pharaoh with his dilemma, what reward, if any -- will Joseph receive? Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 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) The Dreaming Cupbearer & Baker 83) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt  |
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