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August 5, 2021 12:00 am
Joseph reason in the world and yet we never read in the record of Joseph's life when he is elevated to Prime Minister that he ever has a meeting with he probably never saw Potiphar's wife but I guarantee you they were thinking of. And of course you know what he needs his brothers how he forgives somewhere in that prison cell.
Over the next two years, forgot abandon.
He was able, by the grace of God to get victory over the street tried to do as a slave in Egypt, he resisted the advances of his owner's wife and chose to be faithful to God, but even though he did the right thing. He wound up in jail. As Christians we know that God is always with us, and always faithful to us, but honestly sometimes he brings us through circumstances that don't make sense to us. We might even wonder if God's turned his back on us. This is wisdom for the heart with our Bible teacher, Stephen Devi Stevens working through a series on the life of Joseph called God meant it. Today's lesson is entitled. Nobody loves me this sign.
We left Joseph in Egypt, he was in a strange land, and yet had an incredible work ethic where he decided even though he was in a foreign land, even though he was where he did not want to be adopted. The trade thereby his brothers.
He decided that instead of throwing his job instead of in a sense sabotaging the effort there any good he was going to do his best. He would serve God in the house of Potiphar.
If you are with us and I'm sure the story is familiar, even if you work, he was approached by Potiphar's wife and he refused and we studied the principles of saying no to temptation and as a result of saying no. As a result of doing what was right. As a result of being godly. God rewarded him well. We would look at it that way. If we can remove ourselves 30 years down the road we would say that was God's design and how he responded to Joseph's obedient, but Joseph you remember responding to something sinful in the right way was in effect rewarded with the present. That's really left and let's take it up with chapter 39 and verse 19 that came about when his master heard the words of his life which he spoke to him, saying, this is what you're slated to me that his anger burned Joseph master took him and put him into the place where the king's prisoners were confined and he was there in jail but the Lord was with Joseph. That is the seventh time that phrase appears and you want to underline that in your text. He was with Joseph at the beginning of the chapter when he was prospering when he was being promoted.
He was with Joseph in the prison.
The Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer and the chief jailer committed to Joseph charge. All the prisoners who were in the jail, so that whatever was done there he was responsible for the chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph charge because the Lord was with him and whatever he did. The Lord made to prosper an incredible story is Joseph is falsely accused and permanently imprisoned. Make no mistake, he's never wife dying there.
In fact, the literal translation of the Hebrew word prison is the whole it was a pit.
It was a tank, dark stench filled the room with perhaps two or three other key political prisoners and that's where Joseph is shackled, they discovered the archaeologists similar prisons in the deserts of Egypt, among many discoveries and they have found holes or pits where they would place prisoners and they would have a brace would go around the neck imprisoning or shackling that person to a pillar and then his ankles also would be shackled.
That's what Saul talks about one of the songs when it talks about his neck and his feet being in irons and so Joseph begins not with responsible position prison.
He begins by being shackled to a stone pillar his neck and his ankles standing for he does not know how long the key phrase as you well know, and I've already mentioned, it is that the Lord was with him and the Lord had another design. The Lord wasn't about to let Joseph rot in the prison, although for some that is been the case for Joseph. It wasn't something unusual happens. He gives Joseph favor in the captain of the guards serving size so that he's promoted what that promotion is now is not taking him out of the whole.
What that means is he is released from the fat her and now he serves the other prisoners not much of an improvement. When you think of it that way but yet I'm sure to him.
It was a great improvement because no longer is his neck and iron breaks but he will now serve as I was thinking of this.
Obviously the application is mistreatment that he is facing unjustified he is betrayed he is accused of doing something he is never done before. Obviously, we also know degree such as this, but we also face mistreatment and I would give you three ways. The first way, of course, that we face mistreatment is from people. There are a number of biblical illustrations of mistreatment by people you could go to Nehemiah. As we often do, because he's a classic illustration of someone who continues to do the will of God.
Even though mistreated, even though accused. We would also, of course, face mistreatment from family and of course the logical extension, or the extreme of that would be in his perhaps you have come from an abusive. Sometimes we can be mistreated by people we love and I'm sure if we consider Joseph story. He also face mistreatment obviously by his brother. The third would be from friends, and I think this hurts as much is from family, especially) I think of the rejection that Paul faced and felt when Dimas never second Timothy chapter 4 verse 10, Paul writes, and you can almost hear the agony in his voice as he says the word forsaken could be translated left in a lurch abandoned and with that comes the idea of Paul being in a state where the battle really gets hot where he really begins to need help and support, like we all do. The implication is at that point in time Paul says Dimas left me in the lurch. Dimas abandoned those are common forms of mistreatment.
Now notice that Joseph is temporarily befriended and divinely inspired, but take it right now.
The chapter 40 then it came about after these things that the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their Lord the King of Egypt. There have been volumes on just this first verse, but let me share with you the top of what I have learned the cupbearer could be translated because of the definite article V cupbearer. This is the chief of the cupbearer's. This isn't just a baker. This is the baker. This is the chief of the Bakers. There were perhaps dozens if not hundreds of bakers and those that That palace driving preparing the foods and it's interesting than many have implied that because the cupbearer who was responsible. Dan became the top he would be the one responsible for taking a sip of what he would drink and give it to the Pharaoh if he keeled over after 30 seconds. Of course the Pharaoh would drink if he survived in the Pharaoh doing so, he was a very responsible person because if anybody wanted to assassinate the Pharaoh. So the little cashier poison in their paint fake it in any given to the king and ended by King. This was perhaps one of the most trusted men in the kingdom. Remember another individual who was the cupbearer who in the Old Testament whole book. He was the cupbearer to Artaxerxes.
Nehemiah Nehemiah was perhaps the most trusted person to Artaxerxes is very life depended on Batman. It's interesting as well that the cupbearer was in a sense, in agreement with the priests they have discovered. Now so much information that makes conclusive that the Pharaoh was not allowed intoxicating drink. In fact, the priests prescribed what the Pharaoh could drink. The cupbearer would make sure that the Pharaoh got only what had been prescribed. He would carefully make sure it wasn't poison and also make sure that the regulation very responsible individual well because the cupbearer and the baker are both front and to present at the same time was that make you think implication is these guys had something going, perhaps, had been hired by assassins. Perhaps someone had slipped poison into the food and the Pharaoh did know was that the cupbearer or was it the baker who is responsible and so he throws both of them in the prison until evidence has been weighed. Perhaps that's what they're waiting for good and experts and Pharaoh was furious with his two officials. The chief cupbearer and the chief baker, so he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard in the jail the same place where Joseph was imprisoned and the captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of that that is in the dank little cell. Joseph will now serve them. It's humiliating enough to be a slave. But now in effect. Although he's listened.
He is a slave to criminals. He will take care of them. They were in confinement for some time now to verse five in the cupbearer and the baker, the king of Egypt were confined in a jail both had a dream the same night. Each man with his own dream in each dream with its own interpretation when Joseph came to them in the morning he observed in behold they were dejected or depressed and he asked Pharaoh's officials who were with him in confinement in his master's house. Why are your face is so sad today going to been written on that as well.
Obviously Joseph is very caring and sensitive individual even though he is imprisoned, he is still concerned enough to ask these two men who are prisoners as well. What's bothering shared with me. Maybe I can help. An unusual character. Mercy when they said to him, we have had a dream and there is no one to interpret. Then Joseph said these startling words do not. Interpretations belong to God, to me, please.
This reveals ladies and gentlemen.
Two very important things that Joseph imprisoned first of all, it reveals the Joseph still believe in his dreams, even over the dreams that he had if he didn't believe in his dreams he would've told these guys listen. The last thing you want to do is dream I had two dreams one time and let me tell you what happened to me are the seeds bowing down the main forget the dreams guys reveals the Joseph still is hard believe God to give them those brains and they would come true.
The second thing obviously, this reveals that he had not abandoned God, which is incredible. Do not interpretations belong to God. I want you to know that even though I was obeying him. Even though I was doing what was right even though I was a trusting follower of his law.
He strongly in the prison and yet I still trust them, I still obey both read on and see what happens.
So the chief cupbearer verse nine, told his dream to Joseph and said to him in my dream before there was a vine in front of me and on the vine were three branches and as it was butting its blossom schematics clusters produced} the Pharaoh's cup was in my hand so I took the grapes and squeeze them in the Pharaoh's cup and I put the cup in the Pharaoh's hand. This again would be evidence to the rabbit trail. I was on a few minutes ago. First will help. Then Joseph said to him, this is the interpretation of it.
The three branches are three days within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office and you will put Pharaoh's cup into his hand. According your former custom when you were his cupbearer now. Verses 14 and 15 are interesting. Note them well because Joseph is absolutely human.
He says only keeping in mind when it goes well with you and please do me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. This whole for I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews and even here, I've done nothing that they should've put me into the dungeon. In other words Joseph essay listen to my story. Now and when you get out. Please note the word put a good word into the Pharaoh's ear for me and I want to mention this again as we get to application is how God is developing in him a very important principle of these to be in our lives as well.
But going to verse 16 with the chief baker saw that he interpreted favorably. He said to Joseph. I also saw in my dream and goal. There were three baskets of white bread on my head in the top basket. There were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.
Then Joseph answered and said this is the interpretation, three baskets are three days within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head. Note from you. The big difference he's going to be beheaded and will hang you on a tree and the birds will eat your flesh off you.
First of all know the character Joseph.
I wondered if he made sure he was far enough away from the leash of this guy before he gave him the interpretation he measured how far he would have to run but yet unseemly Joseph without even blinking and I simply says this is the interpretation. What a powerful statement to everybody today who speaks who teaches the word because we have not only the message of the cupbearer. That's great news. There is heaven, there is forgiveness there is rejoicing.
We also bear with us the message of the Baker.
There may be judgment there may be death and Joseph interpreting the word of God, capable now this is incredibly important because in that day you know in Egypt. They involve the bodies. Why is that because of their religious system. The preservation of the body was essential for life after death, and so you wanted to make sure that they really took good care of your body because you would come back and inhabited in the next life. That's why they developed this tremendous process of embalming bodies. You'll notice that the judgment here is really severe in Egypt. Verse 19 from not only be had you but they will take your body what's left. And don't impale it to a tree and birds will come and eat the flesh off your body. Thus he knew there was no chance for life after death. Being a pagan.
He faced severe judgment. Now Joseph is potentially rescued and yet he is tragically forgotten. Verse 20. Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday that he made a feast for all his servants. This is interesting. Pharaoh designed his own birthday party and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among us are other peoples about Internet banqueting room.
He's gonna have fun this is for. This is my little birthday party to myself and he restored the chief cupbearer to his office and he probably said, wonderful Pharaoh. I perhaps however, he discovered the evidence he was looking for that the cupbearer was innocent and the Baker was guilty and he restored the chief cupbearer and he put the cup into Pharaoh's hand was 22 when he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted, beheaded and obviously hanged his body on the tree now verse 23, of course, is very important. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot going online is three words but forgot and sometimes at another time. Ponder the implications of how the most effective. Joseph FB Meyer, the colorful expositors that I read from last week uses his imagination and he writes of how the next day when the prison door opens Joseph Schultz with the start and he looks toward the door, perhaps even running over to our unfree he probably told all the other prisoners there, yet may I guarantee you that after a few days.
Door opens and probably with a start with a hopeful look looks over at the door.
Another prisoner a guard entering or exiting the finally someone comes to the door and Joseph doesn't must've been unbelievably difficult.
Joseph to go through that experience of knowing that the cupbearer chosen to forget. Let me give you some common responses to mistreatment the way that I got them as I lean back in my chair and I asked myself the question, how do you respond to mistreatment. There were three given to number one self-pity. I can imagine the Joseph in that prison had every potential to throw the biggest pity party in history.
Look at me well is made, it all started with jealous brothers and then I do my best in Potiphar that the defendant's wife accuses me now in prison. I interpret for God. The dream that get me anywhere. The next chapter reveals by its silence. The Joseph never through that party. But because he's human, I have a reason to believe he was sorely tempted to. The second is bitterness, bitterness that initially is directed toward the person who is mistreated, the person who is accusing me the person who is criticizing me initially bitterness. I don't want to see that person I want to be near that person.
I want to drive my car by that person's house.
I don't want to drive your car by my house and it begins to grow but ultimately bitterness is directed not toward that person, but who is directed toward God.
A person who is filled with bitterness. Ultimately, has forfeited his fellowship with God because he, in effect, says God did not deal kindly with me and allowing this to happen to me. So bitterness is a very very common threat when you mistreated third revenge. That's the one where you can really spend some time you envision that person's face on the wall of your kitchen or in your study or office on the driveway when you pull up in your garage. Joseph had every reason in the world and yet we never read in the record of Joseph's life when he is elevated to Prime Minister that he ever has a meeting with Potiphar, he probably never saw Potiphar's wife but I guarantee you they were thinking of. And of course you know is will study in detail later when he meets his brothers how he forgives them somewhere in that prison cell. Over the next two years. Two years forgot abandoned. He was able, by the grace of God to get victory over the street and I suggest you by way of application. Several things.
Let's tie this together and bring it home. I think there are ways that we open ourselves up for mistreatment or the ill effect of mistreatment we call them perhaps let them give you two forcible misplacing our trust misplacing our trust. Joseph really opened himself up because in verses 14 and 15. He tells this man will be my Savior. In a sense you get the word you get me out of here and God would teach them over the next two years.
If you get out of here. It will be buying me, we open ourselves up for this kind of let down when our happiness depends on someone else other than God. We put our trust in flesh whenever you put your ultimate trust in me, you will be let them if I ever ultimately put my total trust in you.
I will be let them we all fail each other and I think whenever we face the bitterness or the potential self-pity or revenge.
We are in essence telling ourselves. This I placed my trust in them rather than God working through them.
Secondly, making unrealistic expectations.
There is no way in the world. You know me long enough.
I know you long enough you know anybody long enough they will drop the ball. They will either it will disappoint. Let me lead you to the next and last part of application what to do and left in the what to do when you face handling the response to mistreatment three things. First, will reevaluate that is what is my attitude. What are my motives. What are my priorities.
Is this person revealing to me that my priorities are way out of line that my motive for doing something is out of kilter.
Secondly, refuse simply refuse to retaliate and that's as much a commitment is anything else you make up your mind.
You will not allow your mind to retaliate to imagine that if you don't imagine it, you will never perform begins in the heart thirdly refocus on me give you two things to put on the number one refocus on God's desire.
This is an interesting thought, because God's desire is for harmony and unity that person who has fought against you is so caught up and has in fact transgressed the line and is involved in bitterness. Perhaps revenge, self-pity when they are in a position it is our responsibility to go and help them out of that by saying, tell me what I did.
It's interesting how Jesus Christ tells us to strive for harmony and unity forgiveness. Obviously, the family, but in the church.
Secondly we focus on God's design to thought every disappointment is another illustration of the faithfulness of God. Every disappointment in life when someone disappoints you.
That is an illustration about how Jesus Christ never disappoints.
Secondly, every disappointment is another step toward maturing in the image of Christ. Jesus Christ learned obedience of the things that he suffered. Could you imagine taking several hours and not even finishing the task of writing down every time Jesus Christ was mistreated, accused, abandoned, rejected, we fellowship with him in his glory, but also the sufferings. Let me read you something that was written perhaps 100 years ago to the anonymous but it's a Paul pains furnace God's breath upon the flames of below and all my heart and anguish shivers and trembles at the fiery glow and yet I whisper as God will and in his hottest flyer hold still, he comes and lays my heart all heated on the hard Annville minded so into his own fair shape to beaded with his great hammer blow by blow and yet I whisper as God will and at his heaviest blows hold still, he takes myself and heart beats. It the sparks fly off every blow. He turns it over and over and heats it and lets it cool and makes a glow and yet I whisper as God will his mighty hand. Why should I murmur for the sorrows. Thus, only long-lived inmate and will tomorrow when John has done his work. So I say trusting as God with and trusting to the hold still men and women. There is something far greater than vindication. The foreman recognition except before for something far greater than all of that is the conscience. Joseph God is with God is going in a particular direction. I going to desire to obtain vindication recognition and acceptance of other people is a very real temptation. That's why Joseph's example is so compelling today pursuing the path that brings honor to God is not usually the easy path, but it's always the right path, and no matter what our circumstances might indicate God is always with us, and always faithful to us.
You're listening to wisdom for the hard with Stephen Devi. Today's lesson from the series called God meant it for good is entitled nobody loves me this I know, in addition to equipping you with these daily Bible lessons. We produce a monthly magazine.
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