March 7, 2013
FORGET ME NOT
Genesis 40
Alan Murray
Central Truth
Joseph might not have understood why he was imprisoned, but his faith in God kept him strong during difficult times. Even though he was forgotten by the cupbearer, God did not forget about him. Joseph held on to his faith in God throughout all his unfavorable circumstances.
Key Verse | Genesis 40:14–15, 23
"Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon." . . . Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. (Genesis 40:14-15, 23)
Genesis 40
Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners' Dreams
1 Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.
5 And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. 7 So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”
9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, 10 and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. 13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”
16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” 18 And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. 19 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”
20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Dive Deeper | Genesis 40
Have you ever felt like you have been forgotten? Maybe you've been left out of a playground football game, not asked out to lunch by your co-workers, or even forgotten by your parents because they didn't have enough time? I know I have, but none of that comes close to the way Joseph must have felt when the cupbearer left him in the dungeon. Through all the hardship, Joseph still gave credit to God for his interpretations. His faith in God never wavered. Joseph made the best of whatever circumstance God put him in.
When trials and temptation come, I have two choices. I can either choose my way or God's way. If I go my way, I will make foolish decisions that will lead to sin. If I go God's way, I choose wisdom and process my decisions through prayer and community. Joseph had every opportunity to give up on God and go his own way. Joseph held firm to the Truth he believed in, and God honored his faithfulness. Today, take the opportunity to thank God for not abandoning you during times of trial and commit yourself to standing firm in the Hope that we profess (Hebrews 10:23).
Discussion Questions
1. What are some ways that you abandon God and go your own way? Are you willing to surrender those things to Him today?
2. Who have you forgotten about lately? How can you show them Christ's love today?
3. In 2013, how have you seen God work through your faithfulness? Thank Him for it now.
4. Pick one spiritual discipline this month to be faithful at practicing.