9.23.2013

the cupbearer

Currently, I am on a quest to read through the Bible again. Each time I come to a set of particular verses in Genesis, I have to pause every time I read them and smile and ponder them once again. The story goes like this:

Joseph (one of the 12 sons of Jacob—a.k.a. Israel) is the favorite of his father. Joseph is given the coat of many colors. He is good at interpreting dreams. He is also what one would consider an "annoying little brother."

He had a dream that all his mostly older brothers will bow down before him (which is great foreshadowing if you know the rest of the story, yet not the best way to win the popular vote amongst your big brothers).

Because of their jealousy, his brothers decide to kill him. One of his older brothers intervenes to stop that plot. Yet, they decide to sell him to a caravan heading toward Egypt claiming to their father that Joseph was mauled by an animal and killed. He’s sold. He’s sold again to Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife comes on to him and he doesn't give in and she gets mad and makes up a lie, which lands Joseph in prison—innocent in the matter.

Here is where things get really interesting. The king’s cupbearer and baker are thrown into prison and put under Joseph’s care. Both have dreams and Joseph interprets them. Short interpretations: baker will be hung and killed. Cupbearer will live.

Before the dreams come true, Joseph begs the cupbearer to remember him because he is innocent. The dreams come true. However, the cupbearer forgets.

Here are the verses that always cause me to pause: “Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile…” (Genesis 40:23-41:1).

Now, Joseph goes on to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, becomes one of his favorites, and saves Egypt from starvation. But the point of this is: that empty space between the period of the first verse and the word “After” is TWO WHOLE YEARS. Two years—the cupbearer forgot him until Pharaoh had a dream and needed someone to interpret it and, all of the sudden, the cupbearer remembered Joseph.

Cupbearer's thoughts as paraphrased by me: “Oh, yeah, I knew a guy who interpreted a pretty significant dream for me once…I was supposed to remember him…oops.”

I think we all have times where we feel like we have a forgetful cupbearer in our life. Did God forget about me? Doesn't He remember what I've done and what I want to do? Why do I have to wait here? Two whole years? Why doesn't the cupbearer remember?

We have no idea of how Joseph’s time was spent in prison those two years. Were they fruitful years? We would hope so. Did he tell the entire prison system about God? Maybe. We don’t know. There isn't any more information given other than that empty space between the period and the word “After.” Sometimes, the time of waiting is just the time of waiting—for better or for worse.

Here’s the main point of my ramblings: although the cupbearer forgot about Joseph, God did not.

God does not forget about His people. God did not forget about Joseph. God has not forgotten about you.

When we survey the life of Joseph, we will see a theme come to the surface. The theme verse of the story of Joseph is this: “What man intended for harm, God intended for good…” (Genesis 50:20).

And that’s the beauty of serving our God, isn’t it? Those times we view as such a waste—those two whole years—can be meant for such good in our life. Let us not forget that we serve a God Who is not quick to forget about His children. Rest in Him even when you have to wait “two whole years.”

And praise Him that we can rely on our God even when we cannot rely on the cupbearer.

"Praise Him because He has grace that does not forget to remember His children..." (Dr. Robert Smith).