Good Thursday to you my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,
Are you enjoying this “Grand Narrative” overview of the Bible? We’ve come today to a very important moment in history. I left you yesterday with young Joseph suddenly thrown into prison in Egypt! Do you remember why? It was the epitome of injustice, and the story is found in Genesis 39.
If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of ‘injustice’, would you agree it tends to breed resentment, bitterness, anger and maybe even nurtures a plan for retaliation!? Not so with Joseph, even though this was now the second time his life has been made a shambles through severe injustice by someone whom he trusted!
Remember his own brothers sold him as a slave and now his boss’s wife had framed him in a lie. But somehow Joseph did not lose his mind, nor did he go on a terror spree in prison, not even a pity party! Somehow young Joseph, likely in his early 20’s, refused to allow his emotions to run wild or his mind lead him into chaos.
The report of what happened in that prison is hardly believable: “While Joseph was there in prison, the LORD was with him. God granted Joseph favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything that was under Joseph’s care because the LORD gave Joseph success in whatever he did.” (Gen. 39:2-23)
No matter where you are in the world, I assume you know something about the prison system in your city or country. High walls, razor wire, guard towers, cameras, all types of security systems and of course lots of well-armed guards, right? In my country there are MILLIONS of incarcerated people and recent stats say it costs on average about $60,000 PER INMATE per year! BILLIONS are spent on operating prisons in America.
I do not know of any prison where the warden puts well behaved prisoners in charge, but it happened in Egypt and evidently worked well with Joseph! As time passed, like in any prison, new prisoners were brought in often and probably some died or were released. Months turned to years. Genesis 40 tells us two new prisoners had offended the Pharaoh and were put under Joseph’s watch to orient them and make sure they didn’t disrupt things in prison!
One day they asked Joseph for unusual help. They’d both had dreams and wondered if Joseph could make sense of their dreams! Surprised, Joseph responded with wisdom: “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” (Gen. 40:6-11) I suppose with nothing to lose, the Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph.
Amazingly, after a little time to reflect, Joseph told him that he thought the dream meant that within three days he’d be released from prison and restored to his position as chief cupbearer for the Pharaoh! Ecstatic, the prisoner thanked Joseph and probably said something like “hey, if I can ever do anything to help you, let me know.”
Suddenly Joseph had his chance, so he said: “…mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison…. I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” (Gen. 40:14,15) Perhaps Joseph went on to tell his whole story, maybe he just left it at that, to protect the privacy and integrity of Mrs. Potiphar, the liar who framed him. Can you imagine the look on his face, that maybe, just maybe, he too might be out of prison and restored to the good life he had, and maybe very soon?
News spread quickly in that prison and soon another prisoner asked Joseph for help. He too had a dream, but Joseph’s interpretation was entirely different, in fact dramatically different. This was the Pharaoh’s chief baker, but Joseph warned him that his dream meant he would not be freed within three days but would actually be executed! (Gen. 40:16-19) We have no record of how he responded to Joseph, but three days later was the Pharaoh’s birthday and evidently in the festivities Pharaoh felt both generous and retaliatory! In generosity the Pharaoh did restore his chief cupbearer to his former position, freeing him from prison. But then, just as swiftly, Pharaoh ordered the execution of his former chief baker! (Gen. 40:20-22)
As news came to the prison, I imagine Joseph was both amazed and fully anticipating his release might be the next day. But this sad statement ends Genesis 40: “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.” (Gen. 40:23)
Days turned to months for Joseph in prison. It shouldn’t be hard for us to imagine what he was feeling in that hopeless dungeon. Look back over your life. What have you done when you’ve felt forgotten, ignored, abandoned, rejected or intentionally marginalized?
Once again, I see Joseph’s consistency, his reliability, and patience. I see no evidence Joseph turned angry or resentful or tried to force his solution to his problem. I wonder what stories his father Jacob had told Joseph which bred in Joseph this ability to trust God even when everything indicated that God had forgotten or abandoned Joseph?
Joseph had undoubtedly heard about Abraham’s 25 year wait for God’s promised son Isaac, and then Isaac’s 20 years of waiting before finally God blessed Isaac and Rebekah with twins. Could Joseph learn to wait or would his impatience disqualify him from something much, much greater which God was working on, that Joseph had no way of knowing? What about you and me and our patience with God, my friends?
Two full years passed, after that birthday of Pharaoh, and suddenly Pharaoh had some dreams for which none of his officials or wise men could offer any reasonable explanation. Then the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. (Gen. 41:1-14) Within minutes, Joseph was brought into the Egyptian throne room, cleaned up, dressed in fresh clothes, looking at the most powerful man in the world at that time. Pharaoh said: “I had a dream, no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” (Gen. 41:15) What would you have said at that moment if you were Joseph?
“I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires’, Joseph answered.” If the chief cupbearer was in the room as Joseph was brought in, and their eyes met, what emotions do you think welled up in both men? The most powerful man in the world at that moment told the slave his dreams. Slave Joseph listened intently, perhaps praying while he listened, asking God for help. How long Joseph waited to speak I don’t know. I’m sure he knew his life hung in the balance. If the Pharaoh did not like what he heard, another executed prisoner was just a wave of the hand away.
Joseph spoke: “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to 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 will be forgotten as famine will ravage the land…this matter has been firmly decided by God and God will do it soon.“ (Gen. 41:25-32)
Look around the throne room of Egypt in that moment. What do you see? Confusion, fear, worry, anger? Slave, prisoner Joseph had accomplished what Pharaoh asked. The dreams were interpreted. But Joseph wasn’t finished and with each additional word I imagine every person in that throne room other than the Pharaoh backed away, maybe covering their face with their hands. No one dared advise the Pharaoh without his invitation. Had this slave, Joseph lost his mind?
Uninvited, Joseph outlined to the Pharaoh a famine survival plan which included sophisticated agriculture surplus management. Only God could have given a slave such wisdom. Joseph finished and waited. Pharaoh turned to consult with his officials in the throne room. Then Pharaoh stunned everyone with his next words: “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” (Gen. 41:38) Everyone held their breath. What was Pharaoh thinking? Looking at slave Joseph, the Pharaoh declared: “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.” (Gen. 41:39,40)
The remainder of Genesis 41 describes the unbelievable, radical, rapid-fire chain of events which propelled slave prisoner Joseph to be Prime Minister of Egypt at age 30, in a matter of a few hours, maybe only a day or two!
We must pause and consider what God was doing and how God was involving a forgotten, framed young slave in God’s much larger purpose of saving thousands, maybe millions of people from starvation, including the Covenant promise family of Jacob living back in Canaan.
As you reflect on this miracle, and consider your part of the world in 2025, what is God showing you and me about what God might be doing in our day? Here’s a song to help us reflect on this amazing reality of God at work in our world through Jesus, and I’ll meet you back here tomorrow!
Today’s Scripture: Genesis 40 & 41.
Choose below to read or listen.
 |  |
Genesis 41
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.