Unfortunately, Joseph is still in prison where we left him last week. Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of the king’s cupbearer and the baker.

The last verse of this episode says:

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Genesis 40:23

What a bummer. Here Joseph predicted hope for the cupbearer, then he happily returns to the palace, leaving Joseph to continue languishing in prison.

Worse yet, the very next verse says, “When two years had passed . . .” You remember how these gaps bring me to an absolute halt to ask, “What happened during those two years?”

I guess we can assume Joseph continues to be the leader, so-to-speak, while the prison guard sits on his laurels. Day in and day out, same routine. But I ask, “What is Joseph thinking? Does he hold on to hope for days or weeks after the cupbearer leaves?”

When that doesn’t pan out, does he give up all hope and feel abandoned? After a year, does he completely forget about it himself?

Meanwhile, does Joseph interpret other dreams? Does he talk to other prisoners about his one-God? Does he maintain God-like attitudes? Does he pray?

Truth is, we simply don’t know, but likely he is learning that hard task of perseverance I mentioned last week.

I just want us to pause long enough to remember that day after day, Joseph is in the monotonous confinement of prison life. No cell phone, no TV to entertain him, no books to read, no games to play, very little conversation, just one routine day looking like the day before, until:

When two years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream. Genesis 41:1

Ah, yes, a dream—Joseph’s specialty! Here’s the dream.

(Pharoah) was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Genesis 41:2-4

That’s the first dream. With sevens still on his mind, Pharaoh has a second dream. This time, it is seven healthy heads of grain that are swallowed up by seven thin, scorched heads of grain. (You know how whacky dreams can be.)

Seems to be a theme here. Well, the troubled Pharaoh sends for all his wise men to interpret his dreams, but they fail miserably. At last, the light bulb goes off in the cupbearer’s head. The time has come! The cupbearer says,

“Today I am reminded of my shortcomings . . . “ Genesis 41:9

He proceeds to relate the whole story of the time when he was in prison and Joseph accurately interpreted both his dream and the baker’s dream. That’s just what the Pharaoh needs to hear.

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph. Genesis 41:14

Finally! Just what Joseph has been waiting for.

Have you ever had that final breakthrough you’ve been hoping for? Maybe after months or even years of praying and waiting? Perhaps you, like Joseph, learned many lessons along the way.

For Joseph, he learned to develop leadership skills, dream interpretations, interaction with rough and tumble prisoner types, and—perseverance. Lessons for the coming fourteen years.

Next week, to the palace!

~ Joyce ~

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