Post by Les on Aug 14, 2023 10:16:02 GMT -5
Lonely, but Not Forgotten By: Lisa M. Samra
Click here for the Audio Message
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Genesis 40:23
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Genesis 40:8–15; 20–23
When you listen to their stories, it becomes clear that perhaps the most difficult part of being a prisoner is isolation and loneliness. In fact, one study revealed that regardless of the length of their incarceration, most prisoners receive only two visits from friends or loved ones during their time behind bars. Loneliness is a constant reality.
It’s a pain I imagine Joseph felt as he sat in prison, unjustly accused of a crime. There had been a glimmer of hope. God helped Joseph correctly interpret a dream from a fellow inmate who happened to be a trusted servant of Pharaoh. Joseph told the man he would be restored to his position and asked the man to mention him to Pharaoh so Joseph could gain his freedom (Genesis 40:14). But the man “did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (v. 23). For two more years, Joseph waited. In those years of waiting, without any sign that his circumstances would change, Joseph was never completely alone because God was with him. Eventually, the servant of Pharaoh remembered his promise and Joseph was released after correctly interpreting another dream (41:9–14).
Regardless of circumstances that make us feel we’ve been forgotten, and the feelings of loneliness that creep in, we can cling to God’s reassuring promise to His children: “I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15).
Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced the pain of being forgotten? How does the reminder of God’s constant presence provide comfort?
Heavenly Father, help me to reach out to You when I feel forgotten and remember that You’re always with me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
This isn’t the first time in Genesis that God spoke in dreams to individuals who weren’t His chosen people. He had warned King Abimelek in a dream not to touch Sarah, the wife of Abraham (20:3). Then there was Jacob’s father-in-law Laban, whom God warned in a dream not to harm Jacob (31:24–29). In chapter 40, Joseph was careful to credit Him for the interpretation of dreams (v. 8 ). Later, God would use the dreams of Pharaoh to show His power, not Joseph’s (41:1–16), a point Joseph highlighted repeatedly (vv. 16–32).
Tim Gustafson
Genesis 40:8-15
King James Version
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
Genesis 40:20-23
King James Version
20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him
Click here for the Audio Message
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Genesis 40:23
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Genesis 40:8–15; 20–23
When you listen to their stories, it becomes clear that perhaps the most difficult part of being a prisoner is isolation and loneliness. In fact, one study revealed that regardless of the length of their incarceration, most prisoners receive only two visits from friends or loved ones during their time behind bars. Loneliness is a constant reality.
It’s a pain I imagine Joseph felt as he sat in prison, unjustly accused of a crime. There had been a glimmer of hope. God helped Joseph correctly interpret a dream from a fellow inmate who happened to be a trusted servant of Pharaoh. Joseph told the man he would be restored to his position and asked the man to mention him to Pharaoh so Joseph could gain his freedom (Genesis 40:14). But the man “did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (v. 23). For two more years, Joseph waited. In those years of waiting, without any sign that his circumstances would change, Joseph was never completely alone because God was with him. Eventually, the servant of Pharaoh remembered his promise and Joseph was released after correctly interpreting another dream (41:9–14).
Regardless of circumstances that make us feel we’ve been forgotten, and the feelings of loneliness that creep in, we can cling to God’s reassuring promise to His children: “I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15).
Reflect & Pray
When have you experienced the pain of being forgotten? How does the reminder of God’s constant presence provide comfort?
Heavenly Father, help me to reach out to You when I feel forgotten and remember that You’re always with me.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
This isn’t the first time in Genesis that God spoke in dreams to individuals who weren’t His chosen people. He had warned King Abimelek in a dream not to touch Sarah, the wife of Abraham (20:3). Then there was Jacob’s father-in-law Laban, whom God warned in a dream not to harm Jacob (31:24–29). In chapter 40, Joseph was careful to credit Him for the interpretation of dreams (v. 8 ). Later, God would use the dreams of Pharaoh to show His power, not Joseph’s (41:1–16), a point Joseph highlighted repeatedly (vv. 16–32).
Tim Gustafson
Genesis 40:8-15
King James Version
8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
Genesis 40:20-23
King James Version
20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him