Last week we saw how Joseph helped
the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh to interpret their
dreams. The interpretation was spot on and happened exactly the way
that Joseph predicted that it would. Joseph kindly asked the chief
butler to remember him when he is restored to his position and that
he would help him. But this didn't happen. Once the chief butler
was restored to his position, he forgot all about Joseph. This must
have been a hard pill to swallow for Joseph. He must have hoped
that the chief butler would remember his kindness to him and help
him out of prison.
Two years later his wish came to
pass. This time the Pharaoh had a dream which no one could
interpret. It was then that the chief butler remembered Joseph:
"I remember my faults this day.
When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in
the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,
we each had a dream one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed
according to the interpretation of his own dream. Now there was a
young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the
guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to
each man he interpreted according to his own dream. And it came to
pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me
to my office and he hanged him." Genesis 41:9-13
Fortunately for Joseph the chief
butler finally spoke up and admitted his fault of not telling the
Pharaoh about Joseph sooner. Pharaoh didn't waste any time in
summoning Joseph. Joseph was brought quickly out of the dungeon,
they shaved him and gave him a change of clothing and presented him
to the Pharaoh.
Can you just imagine how Joseph
must have felt? He was in prison for years and in an instant he was
brought from the lowest of low to meet the most powerful man in all
the land, arguably the most powerful man in the world. He was used
to little sunlight, trying to survive in a dungeon, and suddenly he
was brought into the palace surrounded by riches and glory. And
once again, when he was presented to Pharaoh he gave all glory to
God.
"And Joseph answered
Pharaoh, saying: "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an
answer of peace." Genesis 41:16
Isn't it a beautiful answer? By
that time Joseph knew that the Egyptians served many gods and they
also viewed Pharaoh as a god himself. So it took a lot of guts for
Joseph to say that his God, not the god of the Egyptians is the
only One able to give an interpretation. He referred to God as
Elohim. Elohim is the Name of God used when He created the Heavens
and the earth. Joseph therefore said in fact that the Creator of
the Universe will give the interpretation to Pharaoh. He had a lot
of guts to say that, because the Egyptians believed in many gods,
like Ra, the sun god, and Sobek, the Egyptian crocodile god of the
Nile river etc. So Joseph was bypassing them all and saying that
the true Creator God will give the interpretation.
Now Joseph had been waiting for
years to come out of prison. And one wrong word could send him back
or even have him executed. He had to tread very carefully,
especially in the presence of Pharaoh. So it wasn't easy for him to
say what he said, but he did. And his courage showed us just how
amazing person he was. He stood up for God even if it could have
cost him his life. His first words when he was out of prison, was
words of glory to God.
We should learn from him and give
honor to God even if it might be the unpopular thing to do. We must
always give glory and honor to God in all circumstances. We should
never take the honor for ourselves, for then it will be the only
reward that we will ever get. We must rather walk in sync with God
and say only what He wants us to say. We should never be afraid of
what others might think or do to us. They do not determine our
future, God does. All glory to Him!
Father help us, give us the courage
to always and in all circumstances speak up for You. Help us to
stand up for You and be strong no matter what. You deserve all the
honor and praise! We are nothing without You, all that we are is
because of You. We love You. Amen