Genesis 40:23 23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Often injustice happens when people who should be doing something, or can do something, do nothing! In action causes more problems than action would in so many cases. Just take a look at Ukraine and the inaction of countries that could be involved.
Think about the times when you look back and wish you had done or could have done something different, when you chose inaction instead. Would you do it differently knowing what you know now? Of course you didn’t know, so you did what you did.
Our text drops near the beginning of the Joseph story in the Scriptures. The contrasts between Joseph and his brothers, and especially between Joseph and Judah have been on display in the previous chapters. Judah has chosen to not be obedient to the covenantal promises and does not live under the blessing of the LORD. His sin is right on display for all to see.
Joseph, when faced with sexual temptation, just like Judah, chooses to stay pure and suffers the consequences of corrupt power. Joseph would rather run from the seducer and go to prison than yield to her enticements. Judah yielded to his urges, got his daughter-in-law pregnant, and then showed his fanny when his sin was brought into the open.
But even in prison, Joseph remains faithful and the LORD rewards his faithfulness with blessing. And the LORD uses dreams to bring about his return to a place of prominence, but not in the timing he wants. Waiting for the LORD’s timing is difficult.
There are two prominent officials of Pharaoh’s court who for some unknown reason end up on Pharaoh’s bad side, at least temporarily. They get thrown into the prison where Joseph is in charge because of the LORD’s blessing. They each have a dream, similar, but with very different outcomes.
The chief cupbearer is the blessed of the two. He is returned to his position, restored in society and lives to serve another day. But, instead of remembering Joseph and honoring him, this cupbearer forgets about Joseph. Jospeh stays in prison for two more years until this man’s memory is jogged.
How could Joseph being kept in prison for the extra two years have anything to do with the will of God. Certainly the LORD would want him out of prison faster rather than slower, sooner rather than later. But that is not how the LORD works. Those two years were essential to the timing of the LORD in both the affairs of Egypt, the coming weather, and the plan to reunite Joseph with his family.
I wonder how Joseph felt as the days following the cupbearer’s return ticked away. Surely today will be the day he remembers me and mentions it to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh will send an envoy and I will be brought back into the position of leadership in his household.
But the LORD wanted Joseph to be more than just the leader in Pharaoh’s household. The LORD was preparing a place for him to be leader of all Egypt, with Pharaoh being the only one above him in authority. Now that is a promotion. Prison to number two.
But Joseph had to be willing to endure the disappointment as hours turned to days, to weeks, to months and then to two years. He might have given up hope. But he remained faithful even in his low position.
How are you doing at remaining faithful? Are there things in your life that you try to rush because you want your timing rather than His timing?
The Arnold Journey 