Back Where You Belong

Genesis 40
A discouraged minister once dreamed that he was standing on top of a great granite rock, trying to break it with a pick ax. Hour after hour he worked on with no result. At last he said; “It is useless; I will stop.”
Suddenly a man stood by him and asked, “Were you not allotted this task? and if so, why are you going to abandon it?”
“My work is in vain; I can make no impression on the granite,” was the minister’s reply.
Then the stranger solemnly replied, “That is nothing to you; your duty is to pick, whether the rock yields or no. The work is yours, the results are in other hands; work on.”[1]

Did you know there was a formula for discouragement?  It is to first take two steps forward and then take three steps back.  There have been times in my life where I feel like I am doing just that. You think you are moving forward and then something comes along and turns your intended progress becomes failure... You find you are back to square one or in a worse situation than when you started.  


Discouragement is a tool the devil uses often to sway God’s people from moving forward and doing what God desires of us.  It reminds me of a story I read about a time when the devil advertised his “tools” for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly-shaped tool which was labeled “Not for sale.” When he was asked to explain why this tool was not for sale, the devil answered, “I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man’s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.”[2]  This is so true.  The devil finds so many ways to discourage God’s people but as with all things how we deal with or face discouragement says a lot about us and our view of God. 

Speaking of two steps forward three steps back; Joseph was VERY familiar with this formula.  We have been looking at the trials and tribulations this young man of God has faced.  Life was good for Joseph when he lived at home with his parents.  Gradually life kept throwing him curve balls as he goes from beloved son to behind bars in a foreign prison for a crime he did not commit.  Fortunately Joseph was a lemonade man.  When life gave him lemons he made lemonade.  As a slave he became head of his master’s household.  Now, in prison, he is put in charge of all the prisoners.  Certainly he is not in the most favorable of places but God is still using him and preparing him even in this unfavorable place. 

Some time after his incarceration (we are not sure but some time has passed) he is introduced to two men who had committed offenses against the King of Egypt.  One was the King’s cup bearer; this was a high position.  It is often that a cup bearer was one of the Kings closest confidant and he wielded great power and influence.  The other was a baker.  He was probably the head baker and had influence over the royal court.  Both were probably advisors of sorts to the king.  We are not told of their offenses but they were bad enough to enrage the King and land them in prison.  Since Joseph was put in charge of the prison he was appointed to be over and attend to them.  He builds a relationship with these men.  Apparently he is a kind person and does not misuse his authority.  Abusing his authority would have been all too easy for a man in his position

One morning Joseph noticed both men were troubled and asked what was wrong.  Both men had dreamed dreams and they were troubled.  The dreams were vivid enough to remember and unsettling enough to cause them distress.  They wanted to someone to interpret their dreams.  Joseph informs them that dream interpretations belong to God.  He clearly remembers his dreams and their interpretations; so he understood God speaks through dreams.  Let us not forget it is Joseph’s dreams and interpretation that ultimately led him to his past experiences with his brothers. 

For one reason or another God sometimes reveals himself and/or his will or purpose through dreams.  Joseph gives me a reminder that God is the one who interprets dreams.  Interestingly Joseph tells the men to speak the dreams to him.  I believe Joseph is saying that God has given him the gift of interpretation and through him God will give them the interpretations they are looking for. 

Fortunately for the cup bearer the news is good.  He will be released and restored to his original position as a cup bearer to the King.  He is delighted to hear this news… As would anyone in this predicament.  Joseph then states clearly, “Remember me when you get out of prison and tell Pharaoh of the kindness I have shown you, so I can get out this place.”

Unfortunately for the baker the news is not so good.  He is told about his graphic and impending execution.  One can only imagine how the baker must have felt.  I can also imaging that he was hoping Joseph was wrong. I love in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat where Joseph sings, “Sad to say your dream is not the kind of dream I'd like to get.  Pharaoh has it in for you, your execution date is set.  Don't rely on all I said I saw.  It's just that I have not been wrong before.”   Everything happens the way Joseph says.

 Vs 23:  It is here that one begins to imagine Joseph’s frustration and discouragement would come to a head.  “Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”  At the conclusion of this chapter I can picture a frustrated Joseph behind prison bars shouting a resounding scream, “NOOOOOOOO!” 
How frustrating would this be?  Joseph had only ONE request!  Remember me and tell of my kindness.  Yet the cupbearer completely forget.

Application
Once again I can’t help but think that Joseph gets a raw deal.  It is in this time I would also expect to read in the following verses about Joseph’s discouragement, depression or his frustration with God.  I wouldn’t be surprised to read Joseph, much like Job, going into a long tirade about how unfairly God is treating him or how he has remained faithful to God all this time and God rewards him with punishment.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he had an Elijah experience where he goes into deep depression because God had forgotten him in this lonely foreign prison.  It would not be unusual to read a list of prayers or poems like David who cries out to God for justice and mercy.  I wouldn’t be surprised because I know I definitely would have done all of these.  Who am I kidding? I HAVE done all of these.  Here is a man who has been given a promise by God to do great things in his life, the promise to become a great leader and still he has yet to experience any kind of hope at all in seeing this promise fulfilled. 

I know how I feel when I am discouraged or frustrated.  I begin to lose hope.  I start to go into periods of depression.   I become anxious.  I worry.  I complain.  I forget the God whom I serve “who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”  In my despair and discouragement I lose focus on who is in charge.  I lose a vision for the big picture.  Sometimes I even begin to feel like God has let me down. 

Poor Joseph, here he is with his seemingly one window of opportunity and it seems to have been lost.  We who have read the story know this is not the case.  It is in this time that Joseph is still being formed and fashioned for a great work that God has foreordained.  It is here that Joseph may feel like he has taken two steps forward and three steps back.  At least before his encounter with the cup bearer he didn’t have any false hope in getting out of this predicament.  It is here that Joseph is once again reminded who is and who is not in control of the situation.

We can continue to learn life lessons through Joseph.  It is in this man we can learn how to face discouragement and frustration.  We all have or are dealing with discouragement and frustration in our lives. The stress of life has really taken its toll on you.  You are feeling discouraged because it seems like life (or God for that matter) has dealt you a pretty crumby hand.  You may feel like Joseph in the prison where you just can’t seem to get a break.  There may even be some who are almost ready to give up their faith all together because God just doesn’t seem to be dealing too kindly with you.  For those of you who may feel like you are in this boat may I give you some encouragement from the word of God?

1. God is at work.  You may not see it.  You may not even believe it but God is working.  Joseph may have felt alone and discouraged but we know that God was preparing him for something big.  His present situation was no indication of what his future held.  In a matter of years He will be promoted to the second in command in all of Egypt.  The fate of the country (and the surrounding countries) will rest on his leadership.  God was not finished with preparing Joseph.  (Read Romans 8:22 – 28)
2. God delights in giving his children good things.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7 – 11 that God will give good things to his children when they ask.  We do live in a McWorld where we want what we want and we want it now!  However God does not necessarily work on our schedule... His timing is perfect.  He will give the good things in His time.  I know this is frustrating but don’t you want to receive what God knows is best for you rather than what you think is best?  Have you asked God what He wants from you?  I find myself praying to have the same mind that Paul had in his ministry, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
3. Draw near to God.  We are told in James that if we draw near to God He will draw near to us.  Ultimately we need to be near to God in order to overcome discouragement.  It is hard to be discouraged when you are in the presence of the Almighty God.  It is in his presence that the world and its problems seem to fade away.  One bit of advice I give to people (and myself) often is to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  The root to discouragement is being unsatisfied.  I believe fully that when we seek out God and delight in serving him and seek to be satisfied in him is when we can truly have peace in our lives and truly have contentment.
   
   

I leave you with the words of Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (337). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

[2] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (337). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.