Genesis 40 - “Joseph’s Prison Ministry”
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Opening Illustration - I requested two things from Melissa before we got married:
(1) That we can live on a boat and circle the globe.
(2) If I ever end up in prison, for her not to leave me.
When I brought up the boat thing years later, she looked at me like I was crazy. I guess she didn’t know I was serious. We had a heart-to-heart about 10 years ago, and turns out I had to let the boat dream go. That ship has sailed.
The prison thing is because I can see in this crazy world where right is wrong and wrong is right...and I just want to go about the Lord’s business. If that puts me in the clink at some point, than so be it. I’ll start a prison ministry!
Before you label me as crazy...oddly enough, innocent Joseph had to do “hard time!!!”
Background - Joseph had gone from the pit, to a slave, to now in prison.
And last week’s takeaway was that despite all that, “But the Lord was with Joseph.”
And Joseph “suffered well.” What do I mean by that?
If there was an “employee of the month” award for prisoners, then Joseph was the all-time “prisoner of the month”
Because Joseph decided instead of serving self while in prison, he will serve others.
Ministry = Service.
We see with every additional fall Joseph
He just kept serving.
Relevance to CCB -
Are you in Prison? (metaphorically speaking)
A broken relationship?
Financial burdens?
A medical issue?
Or any bad situation that God has allowed into your life.
Then you can learn a lot from Joseph’s prison minsitry
Message
Let’s Pray
Read along (vv. 1-8) The Setup
(v. 1) after these things - Joseph’s false accusation of rape
butler (cupbearer/wine) and the baker (bread)
of the king - they were high officials
(v. 2-3) Pharaoh was angry...so he put them in custody - Unknown what they did. Possible had to do with a plot against the Pharoah.
Under Potiphar (captain of the guard) - was in charge of political prisoners.
They were (political prisoners) highly trusted people before.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
One day, you can be in marble palace. The next can be the pit of despair.
By might or by right.
(v. 3) where Joseph was confined - Remember Joseph was given all authority in regards to running the internal affairs of the prison.
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
Joseph rose under Potiphar twice (at his house and in prison)
(v. 4) the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them - Joseph was given a major responsibility.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
This man who is a slave, a Hebrew, and a guilty sex offender…
Claiming “innocence.”
Isn’t everybody “innocent” in jail?
I doubt these highfalutin “officials” were quick to accept Joseph’s care.
But regardless he served them...for a while
He served them -
Despite his own false imprisonment
This goes against human nature. - When we have been treated unfairly, we naturally desire to go into “self-protect” mode.
Self-focused over others-focused.
Josephs character is revealed here
Joseph lived, (Acts 20:35) “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” long before it was written into Scripture.
Joseph served despite feeling powerless. He just did it because “it was the right thing to do.”
It doesn’t matter how you feel.
for a while - people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Trust takes time.
Ministry (service) takes perseverance.
But it works - one of these men grows to trust Joseph.
(v. 5) Two men, Two dreams, One night
(v. 6) And Joseph saw they were sad - a good servant pays attention to his sheep, empathizes with their struggles, and helps them.
Jesus knows our struggles and even prays for us. (Rom 8:34 - He makes intercession for us)
(v. 7) So he asked - how can you serve someone if you don’t ask what they need?
Ask people, “how can I pray for you?”
You would be amazed how that opens doors.
(v. 8) The answer - These two men didn’t have access to an “interpreter”
Like a psychic or palm reader.
The Egyptians were into all kinds of “magic” (recall when Moses left Egypt)
(v. 8b) Joseph asks a leading question. Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.
Joseph passes glory to God.
Joseph also personally knows how God can use dreams.
Joseph had two dreams of his own from God.
Who is better qualified than someone who “has been there, done that?”
Never trust a skinny chef.
Disclaimer - Not all dreams are from God, but God could work that way (Heb 1:1). I think it’s dangerous to suppose that God cannot work anyway He would like.
Dreams may be from God, the Devil, or from your GI symptoms.
For believers - God’s primary method of communication is His Word.
If you have a dream, vision, etc., subject it to the Scriptures. Use discernment and “test all things”
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Test it against Scripture.
If needed, get help from people who know Scripture better (AKA the Church)
For unbelievers - Guzik points out the Scriptures reveal God using dreams twice as often for unbelievers than believers.
I can understand if they don’t believe/have access to the Scriptures.
Modern day example - Muslims having dreams in the middle east. Ref: “Sheep Among Wolves” documentary.
The scene is a man who is “down and out” by the world
With a steadfast faith in God, despite his “prison” (probably 10 years at this point)
Serving others instead of self
Pointing others to the True and Living God, when they’re “down and out.”
Read along (vv. 9-19) Good News & Bad News
(v. 9) First up, the chief butler (cup bearer) - the one who wasn’t guilty wasn’t afraid to go first.
When you’re not guilty, you’ve got nothing to hide.
(v. 10) His dream consisted of “growth:” budded, blossoms shot forth, brought forth,
It resulted in grapes (fruit) - a good thing for a “cup bearer” whose concern is “wine”
(v. 11) Maybe reading too far into it - Then he directly pressed the grapes into the Pharaoh’s cup, and into Pharaoh’s hand - if the accusation was “tampering” with the cup, you cannot have any impurities (poisons/toxins) if you go straight from the grape to the cup.
(vv. 12-13) Joseph’s interpretation. Good News.
In three days (very specific/measurable) the cupbearer would be fully restored to his former position.
God’s Word has a 100% success rate.
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
If this interpretation is from God, as Joseph claims, it must be fulfilled.
Because of this...God’s Word requires prophets to have 100% accuracy to be considered a real prophet.
If it doesn’t occur, its can only because the prophet isn’t hearing from God...(Deut 18:22).
(v. 14) Joseph’s confidence - in saying But remember me when it is well with you - shows that Joseph was fully convinced.
And Joseph isn’t stupid, he wants to get out of prison.
Don’t stay in your prison if you can get out.
If you’re in debt to your ears, and you can take a better paying job...take it!
(v. 15) Joseph finally reveals his own need. Which comes after he served another.
Interesting word choice the dungeon (Hb. bor - pit, cistern). “Ironicaly” the same word for when his brothers threw him into the “pit.”
In ministering to others, you will see that God is also ministering to Joseph.
His own dream hasn’t been fulfilled yet (his brothers bowing down to him). Yet, Joseph will see that in three days that God is still faithful.
To the cupbearer. But also to Joseph.
Since it hasn’t happened yet, and since God IS faithful, just means you have to be patient.
God working through Joseph with this situation, will give Joseph strength to persist in faith. (Because he’s gonna need it)
In ministering to others (serving others) in your prison, God will also minister to you (serve you). He will give you what He knows you need to get through.
(v. 16) The chief baker is pictured as more lackadaisical, and not willing to consider Joseph (and his God) as quickly as the cupbearer - who now is thinking, “oh, there’s good news? Consider me in”
Yet, the one who’s only in it for the good news, is gonna get bad news.
The cupbearer gave the facts and followed the information where IT led.
The baker presumed the result, then gave the facts.
(v. 16b) He tells Joseph his dream - three white baskets, baked goods, and birds
All these items seem good.
white, abundance of food, etc.
Even the birds in their culture represented deity.
(v. 17) The birds ate them out of the basket on my head.
(v. 18) Yet, rather than the expected “good” interpretation, he got a “bad one.
(v. 19) Within three days - you will be decapitated and hung (seems out order)
Not the news he was expecting.
There are some hard truths we have to accept as well.
Not everybody goes to heaven.
Regardless of being a nice person.
Hell is a real place.
Sin does send you there.
Joseph didn’t hold back the painful truth.
Given a three day stay of execution provided this man a great blessing, the opportunity to repent and accept God that he only had because Joseph warned him of his death.
Don’t think you are doing anyone any favors by holding back the “negative” parts of the gospel. Hell, sin, death, the devil
It’s possible that Joseph was able to share the gospel with this man in prison for the next three days.
It’s a shame that “churches” nowadays cherry pick their Scriptures and emphasize their preaching on the “positive” and avoid the “negative”
Those pastors/priests will have to give an account.
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Read along (vv. 20-23) The Result of Chapter 40
(v. 20-22) And it came to pass.
The cupbearer was glorified.
The baker was hung to die.
(v. 22b) Just as Joseph had interpreted to them.
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
Joseph was trustworthy because he trusted in the Lord, who can be trusted.
(v. 23) Yet the chief butler (cupbearer) did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
That doesn’t solve the “problem” of the story that we desire.
Joseph will remain in prison for two more years until he is finally released. (Gen 41:1)
But there are a few things to consider:
Where and what would Joseph had done, if he got out of prison?
He probably would have gone back home to Israel.
Where there will be a famine in 9 years, and they have to goto Egypt for food.
Where God was planning all along for a craziest and coolest “family reunion” ever held.
If Joseph had gotten out of prison, he would not have been “within easy reach” of the Pharaoh, when needed.
God was still preparing Joseph.
It will take up to about 12 years from the pit to the prison, before Joseph is put into a position of prominence.
Therefore, any “shortcuts to success,” would only serve to hinder God’s blessing in Joseph’s life.
Joseph was to remain faithful, even though he didn’t know what God was up to (and when).
In you’re in prison, you are to remain faithful, even though you don’t know what God is up to (and when)
“A good theological attitude results in a good geographical attitude.” (Chuck Swindoll, Joseph: A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness)
Joseph ministered (served), not because he felt like it, but because it was the right thing to do. Nevermind that he was in prison.
If God allows you to go to prison, then start a prison ministry.
And God will use whatever “prison” you may be in, for His glory, in His way and in His own timing.
Conclusion -
This was chapter 40. The book continues.
Joseph didn’t know chapter 41. You don’t know your chapter 41 either.
In the meantime, just focus on serving Him.
He won’t let you down.
Although is seems as if God forgot Joseph in prison, the Truth is, He never forgot.
And God never forgot you either.
He sees you, your struggles, your finances, your kids, and He understands your heart.
He knows you’ve been abandoned, you are fighting a serious medical diagnosis, or that jerk from work.
God never forgets.
But there is one thing that God does forget:
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
And that is only because of the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary.
And it’s only for those who accept it.
Take comfort, that God sees you and He is with you in the midst of your trials.
