8.4.2015 “Why do you look sad today?” Genesis 40:6-15
6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”
8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
9 So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”
12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”
How often these days do you look around and notice your surroundings? I know I get preoccupied and pay far too much attention to my phone and many times when I do take a second to look up it’s to see others looking down doing the same thing. Joseph, by paying attention to his fellow prisoners, and recognizing that something was wrong saved a nation and all nations that followed. Don’t miss the simplicity and the importance here, the fate of many nations hinged on Joseph asking a simple question – “Why do you look so sad today?” Isn’t it amazing how God weaves these stories throughout our history providing examples of simple truths that can have such profound impacts!!
After hearing their dilemma and directing them to God, Joseph, through divine help, provided the interpretations of their visions. Recognizing the cupbearer would be returned to Pharaoh’s service Joseph appeals for his own freedom which reveals a lot about God’s timing and our desires. Up to this point in the story Joseph has been sold into slavery by his bothers and wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit, forcing him to spend years in prison. One can only imagine the amount of pain and suffering Joseph sustained throughout this period, yet Joseph remained faithful, and very modestly requests the consideration of the cupbearer. All the while God was not done molding him into the man he needed him to be. Can you look back at a time in your life that was just a wreck and see God’s provision for your heart molding you into the person you are today? Or maybe you’re in the middle of a train wreck and you can relate to the place Joseph is here at the end of the verse…wanting to be free.
Be encouraged because Joseph’s story doesn’t end here and God can change the lowest of stories to the highest of victories, sometimes overnight.
Heavenly Father we thank you for being a God that knows exactly what we need to be transformed into your image to do the work you’ve uniquely laid out for our lives. We pray Lord that we would suffer well and have the faith of Joseph leaning on your promise to never leave our side. God open our eyes and pull us away from those things preventing us from seeing those simple opportunities to love your children every day. In Jesus name, Amen.