Genesis 40

As hard as the wait is, God is always on time!

In these first few years that Joseph is sold into slavery, things go well, then poorly. He was the ruler of Potipher's house, but wrongly accused and sent to jail. Now in jail he makes the acquaintance of the chief baker and butler of Pharaoh. They are in jail for upsetting Pharaoh and are having nightmares. Joseph, as seems to always be the case, is willing to help and is looking after the welfare of the people in jail. How Joseph shows compassion on others when it looks like he is the one who needs compassion is an example of Christ's love for us. 

These dreams are similar in parts but different totally in outcome. Isn't this the way of Salvation? We have two paths, one leads to life and light and the other to damnation and death. He interprets these dreams giving all credit to God and taking none for himself, as it should be. The butler has a promising future with Pharaoh, but the baker does not. The baker's dream is interpreted and fulfilled, the baker soon dies at the hand of Pharaoh. As it is with these two servants of Pharaoh, so it is with us that like is short and we will soon be on our way to the end of life's journey.

Joseph asks the butler to remember him and his situation when he returns a position of honor before Pharaoh. The butler unfortunately forgets this request and it seems that once again Joseph draws the short straw and is sent to suffer unjustly. We find out though, that is far from the truth and God has a plan to not only deliver him, but all of his family and future generations of the Hebrews as well. 

Genesis 37

'And the Lord was with Joseph'

If anyone could have said 'Woe is me' is was Joseph. His brothers hated him, he was sold into slavery and his situation seemed to get worse with every passing day. Hadn't God showed him great visions in his dreams? Wasn't he supposed to be some kind of ruler? Now look at him, he's a slave for an Egyptian, bought and sold for a price, not even his brothers made a dime off of his servitude because they were not mindful of him before he was captured into slavery. 

This Joseph that I describe above though, thankfully and praises to God, we never get to meet. We never meet the 'woe is me' Joseph. We meet and stay with the 'God is my helper, him will I serve no matter what' Joseph. This Joseph is a forerunner of Jesus Christ, this Joseph is a man despite his situations and not because of them, loved the Lord with all his heart. This is the 'no excuses' Joseph and we are all better off for meeting him. 

Joseph is purchased by the caption of Pharaoh's guard. Joseph does what he always does and goes about doing the best job he can. It doesn't take long for Joseph to be in charge of the entire household of the captain. Unfortunately the captain's wife takes a sinful liking to Joseph and speaks lies and evil of him after he embarrasses her by shunning her advances. Of course the captain comes home and is outraged at this news and sends Joseph off to jail. The fact that Joseph keeps his life shows God's hand and the favor Joseph was able to create with this captain despite such a heinous charge. 

So now that Joseph is in jail and has an even greater reason to feel rejected of God, he does what he does best. Joseph puts God first place, works hard, and then becomes the right hand man for the keeper of the prison. This is what today's Christian ought to be, the best at upholding God's righteousness and working hard. In Luke chapter 16 verses 8 through 12, 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Not only in spiritual endeavors, but in secular endeavors, let's do the best job God allows us to do, so that when God wants to move in our life, we have influence not only those that love and serve God, but those that we have been in contact with in our daily lives.