We are currently in a sermon series of the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. So far, we have seen Joseph be hated by his own brothers (Genesis 37:1-11). Attacked and thrown into a pit by his brothers (Genesis 37:23-24). Sold into slavery by his own brothers (Genesis 37:28), prosper as a slave in the house of Potiphar (Genesis 39:1-6). Resist intense, daily temptation from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:6-12). Be falsely accused of rape and unjustly put into prison (Genesis 39:13-23). Rise to prominence in the prison, help two dejected men figure out there dreams only to be forgotten (Genesis 40). Through all of this Joseph has done nothing wrong.
In Genesis 37 he acted in obedience to and in the interest of his father (symbolic of Jesus). In Genesis 39 he overcame his circumstances and worked diligently for his master. He faced relentless temptation yet did not give in (another picture of Christ). In Genesis 40 he continues to overcome his circumstances because the Lord was with him. He lived out the words of Philippians 2:3-5 by looking beyond his own problems to the interests of others. He had the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Yet at the end of Genesis 40 the man he helped did not remember Joseph even though that was the one thing Joseph asked him to do.
Genesis 41:1-8 describes troubling prophetic dreams as seen by the king of Egypt, whose title is “Pharaoh.” Both dreams involve a group of seven pleasant-looking images—first cows, then grain—which are consumed by a second group of seven, which are withered and evil-looking. The nature of these dreams makes it clear they have meaning, but none of the Egyptian diviners or scholars can make sense of them. This will lead one servant—the formerly jailed cupbearer—to finally mention Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. It may have seemed that Joseph had been forgotten but he had not been. In God’s perfect timing Joseph is finally remembered by the cupbearer and the wheels are put into motion for Joseph’s remarkable rise to power and the fulfillment of God’s plan.