Forgiveness Pt. 7: Even I Can See That

We discovered in the blog yesterday that after being thrown in jail because of the false allegations of Potiphar’s wife Joseph quickly learned to navigate the “system” and was again elevated to a leadership position while he was a slave-prisoner.  He did such an amazingly incredible job that the Warden (head jailer) put Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners and allowed him to "reign" over the prison as he saw fit and NEVER checked on him again.  Was this because of Joseph?  In part, but primarily because of God’s favor over his life. Genesis 39:23.  By now Joseph has to have recounted the dreams he had while living with his family.  Even though he wasn’t with them parts of the dreams were coming alive, especially the parts about everyone bowing to him, which simply translated into him

being in a leadership position, not that he was better than anyone.   I have no doubt that The PP Committee (Pity and Party) showed up unannounced frequently but Joseph refused to open the door to doubt, fear, discouragement, blame, anger, etc.  He was anything but a dummy which is why I believe he could finally start to see a ray of hope, even while in jail.  The hope wasn’t like a bright shining star but there was enough that even Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles could see the hand of God moving in Joseph’s life and though he couldn’t identify it completely he knew God was up to something.

How else could he explain two elevations to managerial positions as an inexperienced young slave boy?  Think about it, Joseph was managing OGs doing time, some longer than he had been alive.  He didn’t have to prove himself to anybody, it was is if God made everyone cooperate and roll out the “red carpet” for him.  God took what Joseph had and multiplied because Joseph was willing.  Had he participated with the PP Committee, God would have found another source to work through and reward.  Two scriptures come to mind as it relates to Joseph’s managerial promotions:  

Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.  Matthew 25:21 (NLT;) and

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.  Luke 12:48b (NLT)

Tania Not Tanya Nugget:  Never allow the lack of experience to be the reason you don’t pursue your dream(s).  If you put forth your best natural effort, God will step in with his super efforts and create a supernatural success story customized just for you.  His only criteria is found in Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV): If you are willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land.

Let’s pick the story up at Genesis 40.  Two of Pharaoh’s officials, his head cup bearer and head baker ticked Pharaoh off and he had them thrown in the palace jail were Joseph was. He interacted with them on a regular basis enough to know their moods and personalities.  One night they both had dreams and when Joseph greeted them the next morning he noticed they appeared depressed so he asked them what was wrong.  They responded that they had dreams but there was no one to interpret them.  Again, dreamers were very important, highly respected and sought after during ancient times as I stated in Forgiveness: Part 1.  Joseph’s response was: “Don’t interpretations come from God?  Tell me the dreams.”  Genesis 40:8 (The Message) So far the scriptures have only told us about two dreams that Joseph interpreted: 

Genesis 37:5-7 (The Message):  Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, “Listen to this dream I had. We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat. All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine; and

Genesis 37:9 (The Message):  He had another dream and told this one also to his brothers: I dreamed another dream—the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to me!

Tania Not Tanya Nugget:  Based on his confidence in Genesis 40:8 it seems logical that Joseph may have had other dreams that he interpreted (for himself or others) and they came to pass, why else would he be so confident?  God may have spoken to him in dreams to show him how to strategically maneuver in his new world, etc.  God is not limited to one specific type of communication with us.

Genesis 40:9-11 (The Message) First the head cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream there was a vine in front of me with three branches on it: It budded, blossomed, and the clusters ripened into grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s cup; I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh.” Joseph’s interpretation was that within three days, Pharaoh was going to release him and return him back to his previous position.  Joseph asked that when the cupbearer was released that he tell Pharaoh about him so he could get out of there because: “I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And since I’ve been here, I’ve done nothing to deserve being put in this hole.” Genesis 40:15 (The Message)

Tania Not Tanya Nugget: Does it sound like Joseph is finally complaining? Or does he seize the opportunity to ask for what he wanted?  Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it James 4:2 (NLT). We don’t have the right to complain if we don’t position ourselves for the right help.  Lastly, Joseph says he was “kidnapped” the KJV says he was “stolen”.  It appears that Joseph has already forgiven his brothers for selling him into slavery and rather than accuse them, he is careful about the language he uses.  That is not an accident.

Genesis 40:16-17 (NLT): When the head baker saw how well Joseph’s interpretation turned out, he

spoke up: “My dream went like this: I saw three wicker baskets on my head; the top basket had assorted pastries from the bakery and birds were picking at them from the basket on my head.” Joseph interpretation was that in three days he was going to be be-headed and impaled on a post and the birds were going to pick his flesh off his bones.”

In three days’ time both officials were summoned by Pharaoh and judgment was passed over them exactly as Joseph interpreted, but the cold part about it was that the cup bearer forgot all about Joseph, he never mentioned him to Pharaoh. 

I’m out of time.  We will pick it back up tomorrow.

In His Excellent Service

Tania not Tanya