Learning from Disappointment

Intro

Good morning River City. I want to welcome you to Church this morning. I hope you are doing well today. This morning we are going to continue in our series entitled: Forged. Please stand with me this morning for the reading of the word.

Disappointment will come! Do not let it ruin you. (Gen 40:1-5)

Genesis 40:1–5 NIV

Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

They are designed to draw us close to our King

Joseph has been thrown lower into a prison, but he chooses to not let disappointment and setback ruin him. Instead he chooses to serve with excellence. He continues to be light in this dark place. Then one day, two new prisoners show up and are placed in Josephs care. These men are just your average Egyptian officials with prominent positions in the palace. Nothing is out of the ordinary here, until one day these men begin to dream strange dreams.

You can see here that God is setting something up. Joseph because he has chosen to rise above and glorify in the midst of his pain, he is not ruled by that pain and therefore is in position to see God begin to work.

In Josephs Life Disappointment and heartache came, but he would not allow it to ruin him.

This morning my friends do not allow disappointment to rob you of the plan God is trying to work out in your life. So often we become disappointed, then we become disillusioned. When we become disillusioned we become vulnerable to attacks from the enemy.

Evil Lurks where disappointment lodges

-George Foreman

In spite of past disappointments we must hope for tomorrow! (Gen 40:6-22)

Genesis 40:6–22 NIV

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.” “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.” Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.

Often Hope for tomorrow leads to more waiting.

When Disappointment comes, Wait on the Lord (Gen 40:23)

Genesis 40:23 NIV

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Brothers and Sisters, disappointment will come. But hear me today. God is still on the throne!

Psalm 119:116 NIV

Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.

Disappointment will reveal your true heart

Job 1:20–22 NIV

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Closing

Psalm 62:8 NIV

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.