March 4, 2019
Central Truth
When we focus on our circumstances instead of trusting the Lord's sovereignty, we miss opportunities to glorify God.
When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, "Why are your faces downcast today?"
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.
Do you ever feel stuck in your circumstances to the point that they are all you think about? I do, and it leads me to be completely self-focused. It happens when I’m running around entrenched in the tyranny of the urgent. It happens when my husband and I are in conflict, and I can only see his part. It happens when I feel I have been treated unfairly. And it happens when hardship or tragedy hits. It's "easier" sometimes to try to control the circumstances or wallow in my hurt. The problem, though, is that being stuck in those circumstances robs me of joy, and I miss the opportunities God is providing.
In this chapter of Joseph’s story, he has been thrown into prison for something he did not do, mistreated, and misjudged. However, the Lord has shown him favor and put him in charge of attending Pharaoh's two most important prisoners, the Chief Cupbearer and the Chief Baker. Joseph trusts in God's sovereignty and is therefore able to rise above his circumstances. We see him notice that the two men are troubled, and he takes the time to ask why. Because he is not stuck in "self-focus mode," he is in a position to glorify God and help these men interpret their dreams (Genesis 40:8).
As we see in the next chapters, this opportunity led to the chance to interpret Pharaoh's dream two years later, which in turn led to Joseph being appointed over all the land of Egypt! This role allowed Joseph the chance to provide for his own people during famine, reconcile with his brothers, and glorify the Lord! BOOM! Don’t you love how the Lord works?!
Trusting the Lord's plan (being faithful in the moment) frees us to serve others and receive the blessing of His plans for us! Let's not miss it by drowning in our own circumstances! Let's make a choice to trust that the Lord is in control and to open our eyes to the opportunities He provides, one moment at a time.
1. Have you had moments of getting caught up in the circumstances of life and losing your focus on the One who gives life? What circumstances in your life right now cause you to go into "self-focus mode"?
2. Read Micah 6:8. What does the Lord require of you?
3. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." How can we apply this verse to our lives, especially when we find ourselves in circumstances that are not ideal?
4. Take some time today to pray that the Lord would open your eyes to see the opportunities He is providing. Ask Him to keep your eyes fixed on Him (Hebrews 12:2) so that you can glorify Him even in the midst of tough circumstances.